Maryland House Bill HB1011

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/26
• Refer: 2/6/26

Caption

Workgroup on Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students - Established

Summary

HB1011 establishes a temporary Workgroup on Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students. The workgroup is tasked with studying how Maryland public schools can better support transgender and gender diverse students and with developing recommendations for statewide statutory and regulatory policy changes. The bill sets the workgroup to begin July 1, 2026, and requires it to submit a report by December 1, 2026, to the State Department of Education, the Governor, and the General Assembly. The workgroup would include legislators from both chambers, education agency and association ներկայացուցիչs, an Attorney General’s Office advisory member, a student board member, parents of public school students, and executive branch appointees. The Maryland State Department of Education would provide staff support, members would serve without compensation but could be reimbursed for expenses, and the workgroup would automatically terminate on June 30, 2027. Because it is a study commission rather than a direct mandate, the bill does not itself change school policy, but it could lead to future legislation or regulations affecting public schools.

Impact

HB1011 does not directly amend existing education statutes or impose immediate requirements on school systems; instead, it creates a short-lived advisory workgroup within the State framework. Its practical effect would be to gather stakeholder input and produce recommendations that could influence future statewide policy on student supports, school climate, nondiscrimination, mental health, and administrative guidance for transgender and gender diverse students in public schools.

Sentiment

Based on the bill’s structure and the absence of recorded votes or committee testimony in the provided materials, the measure appears to be framed as a fact-finding and consensus-building effort rather than a direct policy fight. The inclusion of educators, parents, students, legislators, and executive branch representatives suggests an intent to build broad input and reduce polarization. No formal vote history or transcript comments are available here to show support or opposition levels.

Contention

The main likely points of contention are the subject matter itself—support for transgender and gender diverse students in public schools—and whether the state should study the issue through a formal workgroup versus enact immediate policy changes. Stakeholders who may favor the bill include LGBTQ advocates, school psychologists, teachers’ groups, and education administrators seeking clearer guidance. Potential critics may object to the focus on gender identity in schools, the composition of the workgroup, or the possibility that its recommendations could lead to broader statewide mandates.