HB 849

Enacted

Child Care Scholarship Program - Freeze in Enrollment - Exceptions and Waitlist

Sponsor: Bernice Mireku-North (District 14)Committee: Ways and MeansSubject: Education - MiscellaneousStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 594 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting a freeze in enrollment in the Child Care Scholarship Program from including certain individuals enrolled in certain governmental support programs, children with siblings enrolled in the Program, and children who are homeless; 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 a new application for the program that collects certain information; 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 (34)

MGA witness list

FAV 26FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 6Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Commodari, Sam	Celebree School	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jahromi, Laura	Children's Opportunity Alliance	Written (PDF)
FAV	Colmers, Elly	Compass Advocacy	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Colmers, Elly	Compass Advocacy	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Connelly, Liz	Critchlow Adkins Children's Centers	Oral
FAV	Robinson, Erika	Easterseals DC MD VA	Oral
FAV	ALBERTSEN, RANDI	Innovations in Education, LLC	Oral
FAV	ALBERTSEN, RANDI	Innovations in Education, LLC	Oral
FAV	Espinoza-Thorndahl, Rossana	Latino Child Care Association of Maryland, Inc. (LCAM)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Agarin, Ufuoma	Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schaefer, Stephanie	MDAEYC	Written (PDF)
FAV	DANIELS, RUBY	MSFCCA	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Torrence, James	Maryland Alliance of YMCAs	Written (PDF)
FAV	O'Day, Garrettlobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	O'Day, Garrettlobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mireku-North, Bernice	Maryland House of Delegates	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mireku-North, Bernice	Maryland House of Delegates	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peusch, Christina	Maryland State Child Care Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Peusch, Christina	Maryland State Child Care Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
FAV	Neville-Morgan, Sarah	Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood	Oral
FAV	Jones, Del. Dana	Maryland Women's Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	McGriff, Molly	United way of Central MD	Written (PDF)
FAV	Barnes, Andrea	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Mireku-North, Delegate Mireku-Northlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Mireku-North, Delegate Mireku-Northlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Lerol, Travis	Travis Lerol	Position only
FWA	Jahromi, Laura	Children's Opportunity Alliance	Written (PDF)
INFO	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
INFO	London, Rachel	Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council	Written (PDF)
INFO	London, Rachel	Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council	Written (PDF)
INFO	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
INFO	McGriff, Molly	United way of Central MD	Written (PDF)
INFO	Morrow, Beth	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)