Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB324: Higher Education - Public Senior Higher Education Institutions - Direct Admission Program and Study
Status: Signed into law, May 26, 2026
Establishing a direct admission program at participating public senior higher education institutions for eligible high school students beginning in the 2028-2029 academic year; requiring the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the State Department of Education, and public senior higher education institutions to establish eligibility requirements for the direct admission program; requiring a student to have completed all prerequisite courses, met certain eligibility requirements, and applied by a certain deadline; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Higher Education - Public Senior Higher Education Institutions - Direct Admission Program and Study FOR the purpose of establishing a direct admission program at participating public senior higher education institutions for certain eligible high school students beginning in a certain academic year…
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Higher Education - Public Senior Higher Education Institutions - Direct Admission Program and Study FOR the purpose of establishing a direct admission program at participating public senior higher education institutions for certain eligible high school students beginning in a certain academic year; requiring the Maryland Higher Education Commission to administer the direct admission program through a certain financial aid system and the Common Application, the State Department of Education, and public senior higher education institutions to establish eligibility requirements for the direct admission program; requiring the State Department of Education and the Commission jointly to establish a process for notifying the Commission of the high school students who have met the college and career readiness standard certain eligibility requirements each school year; requiring the Commission, in consultation with the Department, to conduct a study on administering the direct admission program; and generally relating to a direct admission program and public senior higher education institutions. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Education Section 7-205.1(a) and (c)(2) Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Education Section 10-101(a) and (m) Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Education Section 15-101.1 Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 …
Sponsors
- Malcolm Augustine (D, 47) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Approved by the Governor - Chapter 613
- : Returned Passed
- : Third Reading Passed (136-1)
- : Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- : Favorable Report by Appropriations
- : Hearing 4/07 at 1:30 p.m.
- : Hearing 4/07 at 1:15 p.m.
- : Hearing canceled
- : Hearing 4/07 at 1:00 p.m.
- : Referred Appropriations
Votes
- Third Reading Passed (136-1) (April 13, 2026): 136 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (41-0) (March 20, 2026): 41 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB324?
- SB324 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Higher Education - Public Senior Higher Education Institutions - Direct Admission Program and Study.
- What does SB324 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning Higher Education - Public Senior Higher Education Institutions - Direct Admission Program and Study FOR the purpose of establishing a direct admission program at participating public senior higher education institutions for certain eligible high school students beginning in a certain academic year…
- What is the status of SB324?
- Signed into law as of May 26, 2026. Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 613 (May 26, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB324?
- Malcolm Augustine (D, 47).
- Where is the official record for SB324?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0324?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.