SB 864

Higher Education - Tuition Exemption for Foster Care Recipients - Eligibility

Sponsor: Alonzo T. Washington (District 22)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Higher EducationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 785 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering the definition of a 'foster care recipient' to mean an individual who resided in an out-of-home placement on or after the individual's 8th birthday rather than 13th birthday for purposes of determining eligibility for a certain tuition exemption.

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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 (29)

MGA witness list

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

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Sakles, Tricia	Building Families for Children, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Garcia-Rivera, Ashley	Center for Adoption Support and Education	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wegner, Rachel	Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Philip, Diana	Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children	Written (PDF)
FAV	Brown-Burnett, Gloria	Department of Human Services	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sunderman, Gail	League of Women Voters Maryland (LWVMD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kovacs, Lisa	Maryland Association of Local Management Boards	Written (PDF)
FAV	LeMon, Erica	Maryland Legal Aid	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	LeMon, Erica	Maryland Legal Aid	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baines, Alicia	N/A	Position only
FAV	Hoehler, Pam	Paths for Families	Written (PDF)
FAV	Levin, Zach	Self	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	SWASC, UM	Social Work Advocates for Social Change	Written (PDF)
FAV	Acerno, Steven	The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region	Written (PDF)
FAV	Levin, Zach	self	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Allen, Susan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hoang, Lien	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Perry, Richard	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Washington, A., Senator Washington, A.legislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Washington, A., Senator Washington, A.legislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FWA	Philip, Diana	Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children	Written (PDF)
INFO	Music, Meghan	MHEC	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Building Families for Children, Inc.FAV 1

Center for Adoption Support and EducationFAV 1

Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.)FAV 1

Coalition to Protect Maryland's ChildrenFAV 1FWA 1

Department of Human ServicesFAV 1

League of Women Voters Maryland (LWVMD)FAV 1

Maryland Association of Local Management BoardsFAV 1

Maryland Legal AidFAV 2

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 2

MHECINFO 1

N/AFAV 1

Paths for FamiliesFAV 1

selfFAV 1

SelfFAV 1

Social Work Advocates for Social ChangeFAV 1

The Arc Northern Chesapeake RegionFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

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

FAVKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…