LEGISLATIVE AND GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING 11-11-26

The BCPS Legislative and Governmental Relations Committee met virtually on November 11, 2026, to review its role and develop legislative priorities for the 2027 Maryland General Assembly session. The committee supported maintaining local school-board autonomy, flexibility in school calendars—including replacing the 180-day requirement with an hourly requirement—and continued implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Members also discussed advocating for stable and increased state education funding, including funding for school construction and renovation, prekindergarten, CTE, special education, low-income students, English learners, community schools, student mental-health services, and school safety staffing, equipment, resources, and facility improvements.

The committee approved amendments to add local flexibility to implement the Blueprint with fidelity, include CTE in a funding priority, and call for funding and support for school-safety personnel, programs, facilities, and equipment. It then approved the amended legislative priorities for referral to the full board by a 5–0 vote; the safety amendment passed with four votes in favor and one abstention. These were advocacy and funding priorities, not specific contract or purchasing approvals. No vendors, contract numbers, or dollar amounts were identified, and no procurement activity was identified.