Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB204: Public Schools - Maryland Civic Excellence Program - Established
Status: Signed into law, May 26, 2026
Establishing the Maryland Civic Excellence Program that recognizes the civic readiness and civic engagement of public high school students in the State; requiring that a certain capstone project be included in the Program; authorizing a local school system to participate in the Program to recognize certain students who meet certain criteria; and requiring the State Board, no later than the 2027-2028 school year, to adopt regulations to establish the criteria for awarding a seal of civic excellence to a qualified student.
What the bill says
An act concerning Public Schools - Maryland Civic Excellence Program - Established FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Civic Excellence Program in the State Department of Education for certain public high school students; requiring the State Board of Education to establish the criteria and requirements for the Program in regulation; requiring that a certain capstone project be included in the Program…
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Public Schools - Maryland Civic Excellence Program - Established FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Civic Excellence Program in the State Department of Education for certain public high school students; requiring the State Board of Education to establish the criteria and requirements for the Program in regulation; requiring that a certain capstone project be included in the Program; authorizing a local school system to participate in the Program to recognize students who meet criteria related to student proficiency in civics and civic literacy public high school students for their civic readiness and civic engagement; and generally relating to the Maryland Civic Excellence Program. BY adding to Article - Education Section 7-137 Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Education 7-137. (A) IN THIS SECTION, "PROGRAM" MEANS THE MARYLAND CIVIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM. (B) (1) THERE IS A MARYLAND CIVIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT RECOGNIZES THE CIVIC READINESS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OF PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE STATE. (2) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO RECOGNIZE STUDENTS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT PROMOTE THE CIVIC READINESS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE. (C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL …
Sponsors
- Cheryl Kagan (D, SD-017) · primary sponsor
- Justin Ready (R, 5)
- Dalya Attar (D, 41)
- Benjamin Brooks (D, 10)
- Mary Carozza (R, SD-038)
- Brian Feldman (D, SD-015)
- Bill Ferguson (D, SD-046)
- Jason Gallion (R, SD-035)
- Dawn Gile (D, 33)
- Katie Hester (D, SD-009)
- Shelly Hettleman (D, 11)
- Nancy King (D, SD-039)
Latest actions
- : Approved by the Governor - Chapter 677
- : Passed Enrolled
- : Third Reading Passed (46-0)
- : Senate Concurs House Amendments
- : Third Reading Passed (137-0)
- : Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- : Favorable with Amendments {403823/1 Adopted
- : Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means
- : Hearing 3/25 at 1:30 p.m.
- : Hearing canceled
Votes
- Third Reading Passed (46-0) (April 13, 2026): 46 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (137-0) (April 13, 2026): 137 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (43-0) (February 19, 2026): 43 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB204?
- SB204 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Public Schools - Maryland Civic Excellence Program - Established.
- What does SB204 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning Public Schools - Maryland Civic Excellence Program - Established FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Civic Excellence Program in the State Department of Education for certain public high school students; requiring the State Board of Education to establish the criteria and requirements for the Program in regulation; requiring that a certain capstone project be included in the Program…
- What is the status of SB204?
- Signed into law as of May 26, 2026. Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 677 (May 26, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB204?
- Cheryl Kagan (D, SD-017), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB204?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0204?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.