# Maryland SB 0685: State Department of Education - Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct Model Response Policy - Requirements

Maryland SB 0685, State Department of Education - Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct Model Response Policy - Requirements, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Dawn Gile (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 639) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0685-2026RS
- 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 0685
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: State Department of Education - Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct Model Response Policy - Requirements
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-06
- Last action: 2026-05-26, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 639
- Sponsor: Dawn Gile (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Primary and Secondary Education, Children, Archives, Assault, Awareness and Outreach, Child Abuse and Neglect, Communications -see also- ElecComm; Intergov; etc., Contractors -see also- Construct; Electricians; etc., Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Disclosure, Education -see also- ContEd; DrvEd; HigherEd; etc., Education, State Department of, Electronic Communication, Electronic Documents, Electronic Government, Emergencies -see also- Pandemics, Evaluations and Reviews, Intergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc., Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Local Government Mandates, Mental and Behavioral Health -see also- Aut; Cogn; Dev; etc., Notices, Parents and Guardians, Plans and Proposals, Privacy, Public Employees -see also- State Employees, Public Information, Public Schools -see also- Primary Schools; Secondary Sch, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, School Administration, Sexual Offenses, Standards and Best Practices, Students, Threats, Time, Trauma Informed Approach -see also- Mental&Behavioral Health, Violence -see also- Domestic Violence; Hate Crimes, Volunteers, Weapons -see also- Guns
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (220 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- All school systems adopt by 2027: benefit, low. Each local school system must adopt a response policy based on the state model by September 1, 2027. The state model takes effect July 1, 2026.
- State website for school abuse help: benefit, low. The Department and the Maryland Center for School Safety build and keep a statewide website on child sexual abuse and misconduct in schools. It explains warning signs, how to report, and trauma-informed tips for parents, and links to certified rape crisis and child advocacy centers. Each local scho…
- Statewide school response rules for abuse: benefit, low. The law requires the State Department of Education to create a model sexual abuse and misconduct response policy for schools. The model includes a communications plan, a one-year email and electronic record retention rule, a link to the state resource site, and an after-action review plan. Policies…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dawn Gile (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-10 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 42 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-04-09 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 133 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026-03-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 |   |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-05-26: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 639
- 2026-04-10: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (42-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (133-0) (House)
- 2026-04-09: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments {673723/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means (House)
- 2026-03-23: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-20: Referred Ways and Means (House)
- 2026-03-19: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Favorable with Amendments {793620/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-26: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_639_sb0685e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0685e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0685t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0685f.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_639_sb0685e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0685e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0685t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0685f.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-SB0685-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).