Dear UMBC Community,
As the 2026 Maryland legislative session concludes, I am pleased to share an update on key outcomes that support UMBC’s mission and students, including how our leaders engaged with legislators during the session. As you may know, a significant portion of UMBC’s overall budget is made up of dollars appropriated by the Maryland General Assembly, and the laws they pass can often impact aspects of our operations as a state institution.
Hundreds of bills were introduced during the legislative session (January 14 – April 13, 2026). During that time, President Sheares Ashby engaged scores of senators, delegates, agency heads, and other officials, sharing UMBC accomplishments and goals. She also attended the Governor’s State of the State address in Annapolis and hosted members of the General Assembly at the Peake to watch the men’s basketball team win the America East championship on their way to March Madness. I’d also like to recognize our UMBC student legislative interns, including the 40 interns from our Maryland General Assembly Legislative Intern Program, who were so helpful throughout this year’s session.
In early February, we hosted a “UMBC in Annapolis” reception for alumni serving or students interning in the General Assembly or state government. House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk delivered the keynote address and paid tribute to UMBC alumna Speaker Emerita Adrienne Jones ’76 on her retirement.
The Senate of Maryland also recognized scores of UMBC athletes from the chamber floor with an official citation and students briefly met with Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller for a quick photo. Athletic Director Tiffany Tucker and a handful of student-athletes later joined Lieutenant Governor Miller at Camden Yards to watch the Baltimore Orioles beat the San Francisco Giants.
Below are key takeaways from the legislative session.
Budget
The State of Maryland’s budget forecast remains challenging due to revenue concerns and a larger structural deficit projected over future fiscal years. However, following significant cuts to the University System of Maryland (USM) in FY26, this year's budget contains no direct cuts to our institutions. The State approved $209,995,964 for UMBC's operating budget in FY27 along with other investments.
Also, given the reduction in available federal research funding over the past year, the General Assembly approved a $25 million fund, distributed across the University System of Maryland, to partially mitigate this loss. We expect to learn more in the coming weeks.
Additional Legislation
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Collective Bargaining Rights:
(HB 141) provides collective bargaining rights to eligible Graduate Assistants at UMD and UMBC. Effective July 1, 2028.
(SB 6) provides collective bargaining rights to eligible non-tenure track faculty at USM institutions, Morgan State University, or St. Mary's College of Maryland (for those whose primary assignments are academic instruction). Effective July 1, 2026.
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AI Partnership (SB 597): Establishes the Maryland Artificial Intelligence Partnership within the USM as a single nexus for statewide AI initiatives. Creates the Artificial Intelligence Public Services Fellowship in the USM Capital budget.
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Direct Admissions (SB 324): Establishes an optional direct admission program for participating colleges and universities, allowing eligible public high school students to apply starting in the 2028 – 2029 academic year. It requires the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), the State Department of Education, and public senior institutions to set eligibility requirements, including prerequisite course completion and application deadlines.
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Fallen Heroes Tuition Exemption (HB 3): Exempts dependent children of State or local public safety employees who die in the line of duty from paying out-of-state or out-of-county tuition at a Maryland public institution of higher education.
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Maryland Public Service Scholars (MPSS) (HB 809): Increases the appropriation for the Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Internship Scholarship Program, which develops a public service talent pipeline. The bill also allows for an increase to the maximum permissible stipend to keep the MPSS competitive with other programs.
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Out-of-state tuition exemption (HB 1530): Sponsored by UMBC alum Gabe Acevero, among others, this bill decreases the required tax filing period from three years to two years for an individual or their parent/guardian to be eligible for an out-of-state tuition exemption at a public higher education institution. This is aimed at helping undocumented students afford college.
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Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Pilot (SB 529): Requires the USM, in consultation with the State Department of Education and MHEC, to develop recommendations for a Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program and a teacher preparation pathway. It also establishes a Workgroup to develop recommendations and report to the General Assembly by June 30, 2029.
Several other bills passed to expand tuition support and affordability for Maryland students, including foster youth and military-connected students, and to strengthen student support systems, such as resources for parenting students and improved data collection for student success strategies. New statewide policies were also enacted, impacting public institutions and communities by shaping how colleges and universities coordinate with state and local partners on evolving public safety and public policy priorities.
Our office is grateful for the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who pulled together to illustrate the remarkable value UMBC generates for our state and the nation. These outcomes reflect continued investment in Maryland higher education and create new opportunities for UMBC to promote student success, innovation, and access. We will continue to share updates as implementation timelines and campus impacts become clearer.
Sincerely,
D. Paul Monteiro
Vice President for Government Relations and Community Affairs