HB 525

Enacted

Outdoor Preschool License Pilot Program - Establishment

Sponsor: Michele Guyton (District 42B)Committee: Ways and MeansSubject: ChildrenStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 779 (as of Nov 9, 2023)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Outdoor Preschool License Pilot Program in the State Department of Education to license outdoor, nature-based early learning and child care programs to expand access to affordable, high-quality early learning and child care programs and investigate the benefits of outdoor, nature-based classrooms; requiring the Department to submit a final report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2027, with recommendations for modifying or expanding the Program; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (36)

MGA witness list

FAV 32FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Greenberg, Joshua	Baltimore County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Greenberg, Joshua	Baltimore County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cowan, Elly	Compass Advocacy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Guyton, Michele	Delegate Michele Guyton	Written (PDF)
FAV	Guyton, Michele	Delegate Michele Guyton	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Wiedel-Lubinski, Monica	Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Millard, Demaune	Family League of Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	Stewart, Laura	Free State PTA	Position only
FAV	Rooney, Katie	Irvine Nature Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Poe, Lisa	Lisa Poe	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schaefer, Stephanie	MDAEYC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Macsherry, Clintonlobbyist	Maryland Family Network	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Ferguson, Colby	Maryland Farm Bureau	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ferguson, Colby	Maryland Farm Bureau	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peusch, Christina	Maryland State Child Care Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Poe, Lisa	Outdoor Preschool Licensing Advisory Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Poe, Lisa	Outdoor Preschool Licensing Advisory Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Poe, Lisa	Outdoor Preschool Licensing Advisory Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dietz, Michellelobbyist	The Nature Conservancy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dietz, Michellelobbyist	The Nature Conservancy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Charapp, Allison	Tree of Life Preschool at Congregation Kol Shalom	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Charapp, Allison	Tree of Life Preschool at Congregation Kol Shalom	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Brusaferro, Victoria	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Guyton, Delegate Guytonlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Guyton, Delegate Guytonlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Jarrett, Beth	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Poe, Lisa	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Poe, Lisa	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Sprague, Erin	Individual	Oral
FAV	Sprague, Erin	Individual	Oral
UNF	Fink, Nelda	Individual	Position only
FWA	Wiedel-Lubinski, Monica	Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Macsherry, Clintonlobbyist	Maryland Family Network	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Dayhoff, Justin	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Baltimore CountyFAV 2

Compass AdvocacyFAV 1

Delegate Michele GuytonFAV 2

Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature SchoolsFAV 1FWA 1

Family League of BaltimoreFAV 1

Free State PTAFAV 1

Irvine Nature CenterFAV 1

Lisa PoeFAV 1

Maryland Family NetworkFAV 1FWA 1

Maryland Farm BureauFAV 2

Maryland State Child Care AssociationFAV 1

Maryland State Department of EducationFWA 1

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFAV 2

MDAEYCFAV 1

Outdoor Preschool Licensing Advisory CouncilFAV 3

The Nature ConservancyFAV 2

Tree of Life Preschool at Congregation Kol ShalomFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMacsherry, ClintonMaryland Family NetworkRegistered for: Maryland Family Network

FAVDietz, MichelleThe Nature ConservancyRegistered for: Nature Conservancy, The

FWAMacsherry, ClintonMaryland Family NetworkRegistered for: Maryland Family Network

Journey

Feb 1First reading in the HouseAssigned to Ways and Means
Feb 15Ways and Means hearingWed, Feb 15, 1:00 PM
Mar 6Committee report: Favorable with Amendments
Mar 1Second reading (House): Passed with Amendments
Mar 3Third reading (House): Passed
Mar 4First reading in the SenateAssigned to Education, Energy, and the Environment
Mar 22Education, Energy, and the Environment hearing (Senate)Wed, Mar 22, 1:00 PM
Mar 31Committee report (Senate): Favorable
Mar 21Second reading (Senate): Passed
Mar 23Third reading (Senate): Passed
Mar 23Returned Passed
Mar 23Enacted as Chapter 779Signing date is not in the MGA feed

Documents

Same bill, other years

2022 HB 376Did not advance

Matched by title. Attempt 2 of this idea.