# Maryland SB 0359: Child Care Facilities - Criminal History Records Check - Requirement Maryland SB 0359, Child Care Facilities - Criminal History Records Check - Requirement, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Shaneka Henson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 361) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0359-2026RS - 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 0359 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Child Care Facilities - Criminal History Records Check - Requirement - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-23 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 361 - Sponsor: Shaneka Henson (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Education - Miscellaneous, Applicants and Applications, Child Care, Children (4-12), Criminal Background Investigations, Data -see also- Census; Demographics, Education, State Board of, Education, State Department of, Electronic Government, Evaluations and Reviews, Infants and Toddlers (0-3), Information Technology, Intergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc., Notices, Privacy, Public Officials -see also- Atty Gen; Compt; Coun Admin; etc, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Reports, Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Time, Volunteers, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc. - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (219 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Centralized background checks for child care workers: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, anyone applying to work or volunteer with direct contact with children at a licensed or registered child care facility must complete a criminal background check. The State Department of Education sets up a central unit by June 30, 2027 to run these checks. The unit tells… - Teacher probation rules shift to age 2: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, first‑time applicants for child care teacher jobs in centers that serve preschool or school‑age children age 2 or older must meet probationary employment rules. The rules now apply starting at age 2 instead of age 3. This change only applies to first‑time teacher hires at… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Shaneka Henson (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-10 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 134 | 0 | 4 | | 2026-04-10 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 40 | 0 | 4 | | 2026-03-12 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 | | ## Actions (18) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 361 - 2026-04-10: Passed Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (40-0) (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (134-0) (House) - 2026-04-08: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments {893524/1 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) - 2026-03-13: Referred Ways and Means (House) - 2026-03-12: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Favorable with Amendments {443723/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-01-23: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_361_sb0359e.pdf) - Enrolled, 2026-04-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0359e.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0359t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-23: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0359f.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_361_sb0359e.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0359e.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0359t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0359f.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-SB0359-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).