Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB1321: Child Care Scholarship Program - Application Process and Copays - Alterations
Status: Signed into law, May 26, 2026
Requiring the State Department of Education to identify, inform, and assist Child Care Scholarship Program applicants who qualify for enrollment in publicly funded prekindergarten, Head Start, and Early Head Start subject to certain conditions; requiring the process for identifying and assisting eligible applicants whose children qualify for a program to continue as long as the waitlist is in effect; and limiting certain copays for certain individuals under the Program.
What the bill says
An act concerning Child Care Scholarship Program - Enrollment Application Process and Copays - Alterations FOR the purpose of prohibiting an enrollment freeze in the Child Care Scholarship Program from applying to certain individuals; requiring the State Department of Education to establish a waitlist for the Program under certain conditions; requiring the Department to give priority for enrollment in the Program to certain individuals on the waitlist…
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Child Care Scholarship Program - Enrollment Application Process and Copays - Alterations FOR the purpose of prohibiting an enrollment freeze in the Child Care Scholarship Program from applying to certain individuals; requiring the State Department of Education to establish a waitlist for the Program under certain conditions; requiring the Department to give priority for enrollment in the Program to certain individuals on the waitlist; requiring the Department to identify, inform, and assist requiring the State Department of Education to identify, inform, and assist Child Care Scholarship Program applicants who qualify for enrollment in publicly funded prekindergarten, Head Start, and Early Head Start subject to certain conditions; repealing a process for presumptive eligibility in the Program; limiting copays for certain individuals under the Program subject to certain conditions; requiring copays for certain individuals under the Program subject to certain conditions; and generally relating to the Child Care Scholarship Program. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Education Section 9.5-111 and 9.5-113 Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Education Section 9.5-111(d)(4) Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) (As enacted by Section 1 of this Act) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read …
Sponsors
- Julie Palakovich Carr (D, HD-017) · primary sponsor
- Aletheia McCaskill (D, 44B)
- Bernice Mireku-North (D, 14)
- Jackie Addison (D, 45)
- Eric Ebersole (D, 44A)
- Jessica Feldmark (D, 12A)
- Cheryl Pasteur (D, HD-011)
- Edith Patterson (D, HD-028)
- Kent Roberson (D, 25)
- Joe Vogel (D, 17)
- Jheanelle Wilkins (D, 20)
- Greg Wims (D, 39)
Latest actions
- : Approved by the Governor - Chapter 595
- : Returned Passed
- : Third Reading Passed (43-0)
- : Second Reading Passed
- : Favorable Adopted
- : Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
- : Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (Education, Energy, and the Environment)
- : Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment Budget and Taxation
- : Third Reading Passed (130-6)
- : Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Votes
- Third Reading Passed (43-0) (April 13, 2026): 43 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (130-6) (March 11, 2026): 130 yea, 6 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB1321?
- HB1321 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Child Care Scholarship Program - Application Process and Copays - Alterations.
- What does HB1321 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning Child Care Scholarship Program - Enrollment Application Process and Copays - Alterations FOR the purpose of prohibiting an enrollment freeze in the Child Care Scholarship Program from applying to certain individuals; requiring the State Department of Education to establish a waitlist for the Program under certain conditions; requiring the Department to give priority for enrollment in the Program to certain individuals on the waitlist…
- What is the status of HB1321?
- Signed into law as of May 26, 2026. Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 595 (May 26, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1321?
- Julie Palakovich Carr (D, HD-017), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1321?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1321?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.