Public Senior Higher Education Institutions - Pregnant and Parenting Students - Plan Requirements (Pregnant and Parenting Student Support Act)
Summary
HB840, the Pregnant and Parenting Student Support Act, requires each public senior higher education institution in Maryland to adopt a written plan for supporting pregnant and parenting students. The bill applies to the constituent institutions of the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland, but excludes the University of Maryland Global Campus, the University of Baltimore, and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Studies.
The required plan must be consistent with Title IX and include referrals to on-campus or off-campus services related to public benefits and student supports, such as WIC, child care scholarships, Medicaid, Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program, and other scholarships or subsidies for pregnant and parenting students. It must also provide information or referrals regarding adoption services, identify available institutional accommodations such as priority class registration and flexible scheduling, and establish a referral network of health care providers. Each institution must post its plan on its website by August 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill adds a new section to the Education Article, creating a statewide planning and disclosure requirement for covered public senior higher education institutions. It does not directly create new student benefits or mandate specific accommodations in every case, but it requires institutions to formalize support processes, publicize them online, and align them with federal Title IX obligations. The practical effect is to standardize how Maryland’s public senior institutions identify and connect pregnant and parenting students with academic, health, and social-service resources.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad legislative support and little visible opposition. It passed the House 134-3 and the Senate 46-0, indicating strong bipartisan approval. The text and voting history suggest the measure was viewed as a student-support and nondiscrimination bill rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
No committee transcript was provided, and the recorded votes show minimal disagreement. Any potential points of contention would likely center on the scope of institutional obligations, the costs or administrative burden of developing and maintaining the required plans, and whether the bill’s accommodations and referral requirements are sufficiently specific. However, the overwhelming vote margins suggest these concerns did not generate significant public or legislative resistance.
Crossfiled
Public Senior Higher Education Institutions - Pregnant and Parenting Students - Plan Requirements (Pregnant and Parenting Student Support Act)