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MarylandHB 00142026 Regular SessionHouse

County Boards of Education - Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation - Information Collection and Reporting Requirements

Sponsored By: Linda Foley (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Primary and Secondary EducationBaltimore CityCommittees and CommissionsCounties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties; etc.Data -see also- Census; DemographicsDisabilitiesDiscriminationEducation, Boards ofEducation, State Department ofElectronic CommunicationElectronic GovernmentEthnic AffairsFormsGender -see also- WomenHarassment -see also- ThreatsPrivacyPublic InformationRacial Matters -see also- Ethnic Affairs; MinoritiesReligion -see also- Places of WorshipReportsSexual OrientationStandards and Best Practices

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Clearer sexual conduct definitions

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law defines “intimate parts” and “sexual contact” for school incident reporting. Intimate parts include the naked genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female nipple. Sexual contact includes genital–genital, oral–genital, anal–genital, or oral–anal contact, between any sexes.

One statewide bullying report system

Beginning July 1, 2026, schools use one standard form to report bullying, harassment, or intimidation. The Department creates the form and county boards must give it to every public school. The form lists the victim, alleged perpetrator, ages, incident details, motives, location, injuries, days absent, and any request for psychological help. Each county board must send redacted summaries to the State Board by January 31 each year. The Department must send a statewide report to the legislature by March 31 each year with key details, including acts, ages, motives, investigations, corrective actions, days absent, and false allegations.

Optional anonymous tip lines for schools

Starting July 1, 2026, county boards may set up two-way anonymous electronic tip lines. Students, parents or guardians, close adult relatives, and staff can use them to report bullying, harassment, or intimidation. If a county offers a tip line, it must be in student handbooks, on the website, and publicized. When a tip comes in, staff must complete the standard report form and send a transcript to a school designee. The Governor may include state grants to help counties pay for these programs.

Strong privacy for student reports

Starting July 1, 2026, information from victim report forms and anonymous tips is confidential. Schools cannot share it except as allowed by FERPA or this law. These reports cannot go into a student’s permanent school record. County boards may not publish any information that could identify a student.

Track bias-motivated bullying trends

Beginning July 1, 2026, after a thorough and impartial investigation finds an incident was driven by protected traits, county boards must flag big increases, big decreases, or disproportionate rates for that group in their reports. The Department must set clear rules for what counts as a substantial change or a disproportionate rate by July 1, 2027. By January 31 each year, county boards must make this deidentified group-motivated incident information available on request, subject to privacy rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Linda Foley

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 330 • No: 15

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 46 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 4/13/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 121 • No: 9 • Other: 10

Senate vote • 4/10/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 40 • No: 0 • Other: 4

House vote • 3/21/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 123 • No: 6 • Other: 5

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 775

    5/26/2026

  2. Passed Enrolled

    4/13/2026House

  3. Third Reading Passed (46-0)

    4/13/2026Senate

  4. Conference Committee Report {943325/1 Adopted

    4/13/2026Senate

  5. Third Reading Passed (121-9)

    4/13/2026House

  6. Conference Committee Report {943325/1 Adopted

    4/13/2026House

  7. Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Attar, Brooks and Carozza)

    4/13/2026House

  8. Senate Refuses Recede

    4/13/2026House

  9. Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Attar, Brooks and Carozza)

    4/13/2026Senate

  10. Senate Refuses Recede

    4/13/2026Senate

  11. House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Ebersole, Patterson and Miller)

    4/13/2026Senate

  12. House Requests Senate Recede

    4/13/2026Senate

  13. House Refuses Concur Senate Amendments

    4/13/2026Senate

  14. House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Ebersole, Patterson and Miller)

    4/11/2026House

  15. House Requests Senate Recede

    4/11/2026House

  16. House Refuses Concur Senate Amendments

    4/11/2026House

  17. Third Reading Passed (40-0)

    4/10/2026Senate

  18. Motion Special Order until Next Session (Senator A. Washington) Adopted

    4/10/2026Senate

  19. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    4/9/2026Senate

  20. Favorable with Amendments {793527/1 Adopted

    4/9/2026Senate

  21. Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

    4/9/2026Senate

  22. Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.

    3/24/2026Senate

  23. Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

    3/23/2026Senate

  24. Third Reading Passed (123-6)

    3/21/2026House

  25. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    3/20/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enacted

    5/26/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    4/13/2026

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    3/20/2026

    PDF

  • First Reading

    1/14/2026

    PDF

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