HB 1321

Enacted

Child Care Scholarship Program - Application Process and Copays - Alterations

Sponsor: Julie Palakovich Carr (District 17)Committee: Ways and MeansSubject: Education - MiscellaneousStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 595 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

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.

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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 24FavorableFWA 7Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 4Information 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
FAV	Connelly, Liz	Critchlow Adkins Children's Centers	Oral
FAV	Alexander, Dennislobbyist	Easterseals DC MD VA	Oral
FAV	Bartolomeo, Kathleen	GCAN, MCRT	Position only
FAV	ALBERTSEN, RANDI	Innovations in Education, LLC	Oral
FAV	ALBERTSEN, RANDI	Innovations in Education, LLC	Oral
FAV	Schaefer, Stephanie	MDAEYC	Written (PDF)
FAV	DANIELS, RUBY	MSFCCA	Oral + 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, Delegate Dana	Maryland Women's Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	McGriff, Molly	United way of Central MD	Written (PDF)
FAV	Allen, Susan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Barnes, Andrea	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Carr, Delegate Palakovich	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Palakovich Carr, Delegate Palakovich Carrlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Palakovich Carr, Delegate Palakovich Carrlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Palakovich Carr, Julie	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lerol, Travis	Travis Lerol	Position only
FWA	Snyder, Abigaillobbyist	Baltimore Jewish Council	Position only
FWA	Muckle, Lonialobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	Martinez, Madelinlobbyist	Catholic Charities	Written (PDF)
FWA	Jahromi, Laura	Children's Opportunity Alliance	Written (PDF)
FWA	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
FWA	Snyder, Co-Chair, Abby	Poverty Free Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	Morrow, Beth	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
INFO	London, Rachel	Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council	Written (PDF)
INFO	Eidman, Lacey	Maryland Family Network	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Baltimore Jewish CouncilFWA 1

CASH Campaign of MarylandFWA 1

Catholic CharitiesFWA 1

Celebree SchoolFAV 1

Children's Opportunity AllianceFAV 1FWA 1

Compass AdvocacyFAV 2

Critchlow Adkins Children's CentersFAV 1

Easterseals DC MD VAFAV 1

GCAN, MCRTFAV 1

Innovations in Education, LLCFAV 2

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyFWA 1INFO 1

Maryland Developmental Disabilities CouncilINFO 1

Maryland Family NetworkINFO 1

Maryland State Child Care AssociationFAV 2

Maryland State Department of EducationFAV 1INFO 1

Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early ChildhoodFAV 1

Maryland Women's CaucusFAV 1

MDAEYCFAV 1

MSFCCAFAV 1

Poverty Free MarylandFWA 1

Travis LerolUNF 1

United way of Central MDFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVAlexander, DennisEasterseals DC MD VARegistered for: Easter Seals Serving DC MD VA

FAVHessler, ThereseRegistered for: City of Gaithersburg; Elevate Recovery Centers; Evolve Kids Care; Evolve Life Centers; High Roller Technologies; Laila's Gift…

FWASnyder, AbigailBaltimore Jewish CouncilRegistered for: Baltimore Jewish Council

FWAMuckle, LoniaCASH Campaign of MarylandRegistered for: CASH Campaign of Maryland

FWAMartinez, MadelinCatholic CharitiesRegistered for: Catholic Charities

FWASchumitz, KaliMaryland Center on Economic PolicyRegistered for: Maryland Center on Economic Policy

INFOSchumitz, KaliMaryland Center on Economic PolicyRegistered for: Maryland Center on Economic Policy