Maryland Higher Education Commission - Religious Educational Institutions - Certificate of Approval
HB 192 changes Maryland higher education law to exempt certain religious educational institutions from the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s certificate-of-approval requirement. Under the bill, a religious educational institution may operate in Maryland without a certificate of approval, and may enroll Maryland students in a fully online distance education program without Commission registration, if it is established for religious educational purposes, offers only programs for religious vocations or purposes, provides only sectarian instruction, and identifies the religious nature of its awards on certificates or diplomas.
The bill also creates an important limitation: the exemption does not apply to a religious educational institution that is accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, the bill preserves the existing rule for certain long-operating institutions by excluding from the new limitation a religious educational institution that was authorized to operate in Maryland and has been in continuous operation since before January 1, 2013. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 192 amends Section 11-202.1 of the Education Article, narrowing and clarifying when religious educational institutions may operate in Maryland without state approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. It preserves a pathway for some faith-based institutions to avoid the certificate-of-approval process, while requiring Commission approval for religious institutions that hold recognized federal accreditation. The bill affects religious colleges, seminaries, and similar institutions, as well as Maryland students enrolled in their online distance education programs, and it leaves the Commission’s general oversight structure in place for institutions that do not meet the exemption criteria.
The available legislative history suggests the bill moved forward without recorded opposition in the materials provided. It received a favorable committee report in the House and was adopted on the House floor, indicating general support for the measure. No committee transcript or vote breakdown is available here, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the bill’s progress suggests it was viewed positively by the chamber considering it.
The main point of contention appears to be the scope of the exemption for religious educational institutions. Supporters likely view the bill as protecting religious schools from unnecessary state regulation, especially for institutions offering purely sectarian instruction. The limiting provision requiring certificate-of-approval compliance for institutions accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditor may reflect concern about maintaining state oversight for schools that participate in broader higher-education systems. The grandfather clause for institutions operating continuously since before January 1, 2013, also suggests a compromise between deregulation and preserving existing regulatory expectations.