Criminal Law - Distribution of Heroin or Fentanyl Causing Death or Serious Bodily Injury (Victoria, Scottie, Ashleigh, and Yader's Law)
Summary
HB1386 requires the Howard County Board of Education to close all public schools, buildings, and offices in the county to observe certain additional religious holidays. Specifically, if the holiday begins on a weekday, the first day of Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Lunar New Year, and Rosh Hashanah must be treated as a school holiday, and Yom Kippur must also be observed as a school holiday. The bill amends the State education law governing public school holidays, but only for Howard County, and it would take effect July 1, 2025.
The bill builds on existing State law that already identifies certain mandatory school holidays and allows some counties to remain open on election days. HB1386 adds a county-specific requirement for Howard County, expanding the list of days on which schools must close. It does not change the statewide 180-day/1,080-hour attendance requirement, but it does affect how Howard County can schedule instructional time and school operations around the newly mandated closures.
Impact
HB1386 would amend Section 7-103(c) of the Education Article to create a Howard County-only mandate for school closures on specified religious holidays. The practical effect is to require the Howard County Board of Education to adjust the academic calendar, staffing, transportation, and administrative operations to account for these additional closures. The bill affects public schools, school buildings, and offices in Howard County, while leaving the rest of the State’s school holiday framework unchanged.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, with no recorded votes or committee testimony provided in the materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears to be a targeted accommodation measure intended to recognize religious and cultural observances in Howard County. Because no discussion transcript or vote history is included, there is no documented opposition or support in the provided context.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the expansion of mandatory school closures for a single county, which may raise concerns about instructional time, calendar flexibility, and administrative burden for the Howard County school system. Supporters would likely view the bill as an inclusion and religious accommodation measure, while critics could question whether county-specific holiday mandates should be set in State law or whether the school board should retain discretion. No specific objections or proponents are identified in the provided materials.