HB 879

Enacted

Task Force to Improve Attendance and Reduce Chronic Absenteeism in Schools

Sponsor: Stephanie Smith (District 45)Committee: Ways and MeansSubject: Primary and Secondary EducationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 243 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Task Force to Improve Attendance and Reduce Chronic Absenteeism in Schools for the purpose of studying and making recommendations on practices to identify, prevent, and eliminate chronic absenteeism by students from schools in the State; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2025.

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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 (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 13FavorableFWA 6Favorable with amendmentsUNF 2UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Byrd, Tiffany	Baltimore City Public Schools	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gupta, Riyalobbyist	Blueprint Coalition	Oral
FAV	Agarin, Ufuoma	Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland	Position only
FAV	Agarin, Ufuoma	Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland	Position only
FAV	Aragin, Ufuoma	Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Houck, Madeline	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
FAV	Houck, Madeline	Maryland State Department of Education	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Rubenstein, Cynthia	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club	Position only
FAV	Rubenstein, Cynthia	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club	Position only
FAV	Funk, Kenzie	Strong Schools Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Funk, Kenzie	Strong Schools Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Smith, Delegate Smithlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Smith, Delegate Smithlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Rosa, Richard	Individual	Position only
UNF	York, Katie	Individual	Position only
FWA	Howard County, Staff	Board of Education of Howard County	Written (PDF)
FWA	Quinn, Kelly	Maryland Coalition to Reform to School Discipline	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Proctor, Karessa	NASW Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	Proctor, Karessa	National Association of Social Workers	Written (PDF)
FWA	Martin, Gail	National Association of Social Workers - Maryland Chapter	Oral
FWA	Edwards-Luce, Aubrey	Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts	Oral
INFO	douglass, sharlimar	MAREE	Position only