# Maryland SB 0218: State Superintendent of Schools - Prolonged State of Emergency - Authority to Declare Maryland SB 0218, State Superintendent of Schools - Prolonged State of Emergency - Authority to Declare, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 598) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0218-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0218 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: State Superintendent of Schools - Prolonged State of Emergency - Authority to Declare - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-09-29 - Last action: 2026-05-26, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 598 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Primary and Secondary Education, Awareness and Outreach, Counties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties; etc., Education, Boards of, Education, State Board of, Emergency Management, Department of, Emergencies -see also- Pandemics, General Assembly -see also- AELR Cmte; LegislativePolCmte, Governor, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Health, Department of, Intergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc., Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Notices, Public Information, Public Schools -see also- Primary Schools; Secondary Sch, Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, State Police, Department of, Time - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (169 yes, 51 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Counties must keep virtual plans ready: benefit, low. Each county board adopts a virtual education plan by June 1, 2024, using its 2020–2021 continuity plan. The plan must cover staffing, instruction, tests and supports, social-emotional learning, community communications, technology, nutrition and health, and a return to in-person school. Boards upda… - Quick switch to virtual during emergencies: benefit, low. When a prolonged emergency affects a local system, a county board may move one or more schools to virtual learning under its approved plan. If in-person attendance must stop and the board decides virtual is needed, the board starts the plan right away. The board can adjust the plan for local needs… - State can declare long school emergencies: benefit, low. The law lets the State Superintendent declare a prolonged school emergency. It applies when a disaster, public health threat, or named security threat stops in-person school for 14 straight school days. The Superintendent must consult the Governor, issue a written notice that names the affected sys… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - (none) ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-10 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 34 | 8 | 2 | | 2026-04-10 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 96 | 37 | 5 | | 2026-02-24 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 39 | 6 | | ## Actions (19) - 2026-05-26: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 598 - 2026-04-10: Passed Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (34-8) (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (96-37) (House) - 2026-04-08: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments {123624/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means (House) - 2026-03-25: Hearing 3/25 at 1:30 p.m. (House) - 2026-03-25: Hearing canceled (House) - 2026-03-16: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-02-25: Referred Ways and Means (House) - 2026-02-24: Third Reading Passed (39-6) (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Favorable with Amendments {553729/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-01-16: Hearing 2/04 at 2:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-01-14: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2025-09-29: Pre-filed (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-26: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_598_sb0218e.pdf) - Enrolled, 2026-04-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0218e.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-02-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0218t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0218f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law) - SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law) - SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) - SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law) - SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law) - HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_598_sb0218e.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0218e.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0218t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0218f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS) - [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS) - [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS) - [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS) - [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS) - [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0218-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).