City Council Hearing: Public Health & Environment Committee; October 21, 2026

The Baltimore City Council Public Health and Environment Committee held an informational hearing on youth peer violence on October 21, 2026, under Resolution 26-0064. Youth commissioners, researchers, and city agencies discussed bullying, school and community violence, emergency-department follow-up, prevention programs, and gaps in coordination and data sharing. The Health Department reported that federal earmark funding supports violence-prevention programming at four middle schools and was extended through September 2027. Agencies and academic partners also discussed collaborative funding opportunities, while committee members called for clearer budget links, program evaluation, and coordination to guide future funding decisions.

No contract awards, vendor selections, or purchasing approvals were identified. Spending-related follow-ups included a request for Baltimore City Public Schools to clarify its proposed $400,000 contribution to Safe Passage, requests for reports and public-facing coordination notes, and a committee request for agencies to identify data-sharing barriers. The committee approved Resolution 26-0064 by voice vote; it advances to second reader at the October 26 council meeting. The chair also requested quarterly youth engagement and follow-up, including youth participation in public-safety messaging and future discussions of prevention programs and funding.