Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB812: Public Schools - Student Fights - School Investigation and Discipline
Status: Failed, March 4, 2026
Requiring a principal or school administration to investigate each student fight or physical struggle; prohibiting a school employee from disciplining a student under certain circumstances; and requiring a principal or school administration to expunge certain documentation from a student's disciplinary record under certain circumstances.
What the bill says
A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Public Schools - Student Fights - School Investigation and Discipline FOR the purpose of requiring a principal or school administration to investigate each student fight or physical struggle; prohibiting a school employee from disciplining a student under certain circumstances; requiring a principal or school administration to expunge certain documentation from a student's disciplinary record under certain circumstances; and generally relating to an investigation and discipline after a student fight…
From the introduced text, February 4, 2026:
A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Public Schools - Student Fights - School Investigation and Discipline FOR the purpose of requiring a principal or school administration to investigate each student fight or physical struggle; prohibiting a school employee from disciplining a student under certain circumstances; requiring a principal or school administration to expunge certain documentation from a student's disciplinary record under certain circumstances; and generally relating to an investigation and discipline after a student fight. BY adding to Article - Education Section 7-311 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 7-311. (A) (1) A PRINCIPAL OR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION SHALL INVESTIGATE EACH STUDENT FIGHT OR PHYSICAL STRUGGLE. (2) AN INVESTIGATION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE AN EVALUATION EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from exist in g l aw . *hb0812* HOUSE BILL (II) VIDEO EVIDENCE, IF APPLICABLE; AND (III) INPUT FROM ALL STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT OR PHYSICAL STRUGGLE. (B) (1) A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE MAY NOT DISCIPLINE A STUDENT WHO, AFTER THE INVESTIGATION REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, MORE LIKELY THAN NOT USED REASONABLE FORCE NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE STUDENT OR TO ESCAPE THE ATTACK. (2) …