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MarylandHB 08792025 Regular SessionHouse

Task Force to Improve Attendance and Reduce Chronic Absenteeism in Schools

Sponsored By: Stephanie Smith (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New tools for Maryland school attendance

Beginning July 1, 2025, the law creates a Maryland task force to help schools address chronic student absences. It must study attendance trends, collect local data on reasons for absences, and set a statewide reduction goal. Its work must prioritize prevention and early help, with findings and recommendations due to the Governor and legislature December 31, 2025. Maryland’s education department must update attendance rules by December 31, 2025, using the task force’s most effective practices. Those rules must set shared definitions for chronic absence, chronic absenteeism, and a day of attendance. By June 30, 2026, the department must distribute a toolkit for elementary, middle, and high school leaders and guidance to local school systems. These materials must address attendance tracking and ways to reduce absences that respect students’ cultures and avoid punishment. The law ends December 31, 2026, unless the legislature extends it.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Stephanie Smith

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Jackie Addison

    Democratic • House

  • Regina T. Boyce

    Democratic • House

  • Lorig Charkoudian

    Democratic • House

  • Frank M. Conaway

    Democratic • House

  • Elizabeth Embry

    Democratic • House

  • J. Lewis

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Ashanti Martinez

    Democratic • House

  • Aletheia McCaskill

    Democratic • House

  • Bernice Mireku-North

    Democratic • House

  • N. Scott Phillips

    Democratic • House

  • Robbyn Lewis

    Democratic • House

  • Malcolm P. Ruff

    Democratic • House

  • Emily Shetty

    Democratic • House

  • Jared Solomon

    Democratic • House

  • Melissa Wells

    Democratic • House

  • Jheanelle K. Wilkins

    Democratic • House

  • Nicole A. Williams

    Democratic • House

  • Caylin Young

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 321 • No: 0

House vote • 4/5/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 135 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 47 • No: 0

House vote • 3/13/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 139 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 243

    5/6/2025

  2. Passed Enrolled

    4/5/2025House

  3. Third Reading Passed (135-0)

    4/5/2025House

  4. House Concurs Senate Amendments

    4/5/2025House

  5. Third Reading Passed (47-0)

    4/3/2025Senate

  6. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    4/2/2025Senate

  7. Favorable with Amendments {953129/1 Adopted

    4/2/2025Senate

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

    4/2/2025Senate

  9. Hearing 3/27 at 1:00 p.m.

    3/18/2025Senate

  10. Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

    3/14/2025Senate

  11. Third Reading Passed (139-0)

    3/13/2025House

  12. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    3/12/2025House

  13. Favorable with Amendments {943021/1 Adopted

    3/12/2025House

  14. Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

    3/12/2025House

  15. Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.

    2/19/2025House

  16. Hearing canceled

    2/19/2025House

  17. Hearing 3/06 at 1:00 p.m.

    2/14/2025House

  18. Hearing canceled

    2/14/2025House

  19. Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.

    2/12/2025House

  20. Hearing canceled

    2/12/2025House

  21. Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.

    2/4/2025House

  22. First Reading Ways and Means

    1/30/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enacted

    5/6/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    4/5/2025

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    3/12/2025

    PDF

  • First Reading

    1/30/2025

    PDF

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