HB 575

Enacted

Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused or Discretionary Absences for Civic Engagement

Sponsor: Jheanelle K. Wilkins (District 20)Committee: Ways and MeansSubject: Primary and Secondary EducationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 630 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the student attendance policy of each county board of education to include a provision allowing an excused or discretionary absence for a public school student participating in civil engagement activities; and clarifying that civic engagement includes testifying virtually or in person at a hearing of a legislative body, meeting with members of the legislative body, contributing to the consideration, development, or implementation of policy issues, or participation in the Maryland General Assembly Page Program.

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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 (46)

MGA witness list

FAV 30FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 10UnfavorableINFO 3Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	DeMinco, Lynne	BCRW	Position only
FAV	Cross, Dr Cashenna A	Councilwoman At-Large, Glenarden	Oral
FAV	Alistar, Erin	HB 200 Financial Literacy	Oral
FAV	Falcon, Gavin	Howard County Association of Student Councils	Oral
FAV	Falcon, Gavin	Howard County Association of Student Councils	Oral
FAV	miller, deborahlobbyist	JCRC of Greater Washington	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ahmed, Samir	Maryland High School Democrats	Oral
FAV	Cornitcher, Daniel	Maryland High School Democrats (MDHSD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilkins, Jheanelle	Maryland House of Delegates	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilkins, Jheanelle	Maryland House of Delegates	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mitchell, Ellie	Maryland Out of School Time Network	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lamb, Laurenlobbyist	Maryland State Education Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Lamb, Laurenlobbyist	Maryland State Education Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Gannon, Michael	Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gannon, Michael	Montgomery County Student Gov Assoc	Written (PDF)
FAV	Carter, Alita-Geri	Qualequity Access	Position only
FAV	Funk, Kenzie	Strong Schools Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Andrione, William	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Wilkins, Delegate Wilkinslegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Wilkins, Delegate Wilkinslegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Ellis, Andy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Graham, Lizzy	Individual	Position only
FAV	Lopez Cruz, Kevin	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Naaman, Daniela	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Seabright, Paula	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Thompson, Kathleen	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Venumbaka, Saanvi	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Howard County, Staff	Board of Education of Howard County	Written (PDF)
UNF	Goff, Jessicalobbyist	Maryland Association of Boards of Education	Written (PDF)
UNF	Greenhawk, Janet	Moms For Liberty Talbot	Position only
UNF	Anderson, Zaniah	Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
UNF	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Mitchell, Ellie	Maryland Out of School Time Network	Written (PDF)
FWA	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
FWA	Ursprung, Patricia	Montgomery County Board of Education	Written (PDF)
INFO	Gupta, Riyalobbyist	Blueprint Coalition	Written (PDF)
INFO	douglass, sharlimar	Maryland Alliance for Racial Equity in Education (MAREE)	Written (PDF)
INFO	Fothergill, Sue	Individual	Written (PDF)