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MD HB884

Bill

Official Source

Status

Introduced

2/4/2026

Primary Sponsor

Karen Toles

Click for details

Origin

House of Delegates

2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Requires the Governor to include at least $5,000,000 annually for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in the state budget beginning in fiscal year 2028, with appropriations continuing each year until a cumulative total of $321,181,312 is reached
  • Addresses a historical funding disparity identified in a September 18, 2023 joint letter from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture, which found UMES (an 1890 land-grant institution) received less per-student state funding than the University of Maryland, College Park (an 1862 land-grant institution) from 1987 through 2020
  • Prohibits the annual appropriation from decreasing below the prior fiscal year's level and requires the funds to be supplemental to, not a replacement for, existing state budget appropriations to UMES
  • Permits UMES to use the funds for infrastructure and academic program development, faculty investment, scholarships, and any other institutional needs identified by the university
  • Takes effect July 1, 2026

Legislative Description

University of Maryland Eastern Shore - Land-Grant Institution - Funding (Land-Grant Equity and Accountability Act)

Governor

Last Action

Hearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m.

2/20/2026

Committee Referrals

Appropriations2/4/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available