Dollars & Decisions — Getting Ready for the 2026 Maryland General Assembly Session
Why the 90-Day Legislative Session Matters
Each year, the Maryland General Assembly meets for 90 days to debate and pass thousands of bills and approve the state budget. Many of these decisions directly affect Prince George’s County Public Schools — from school construction and special education funding to policies impacting student safety and educator recruitment.
Throughout the session, the PGCPS Board of Education actively engages in Annapolis to advocate for students, families and staff.
Key Dates for the 2026 Session
The 448th Session of the Maryland General Assembly runs from Jan. 14 through April 13, 2026.
Dates to know:
- Jan. 14: Session convenes at noon
- Jan. 21: Governor submits proposed budget
- Feb. 9: Senate bill introduction deadline
- Feb. 13: House bill introduction deadline
- March 9: Final date for new bill introductions
- March 13: Prince George’s Delegation and PGCPS panel
- March 23: Crossover Day
- April 6: Budget bill must pass both chambers
- April 13: Session ends (sine die)
Most new laws take effect Oct. 1, 2026.
How Bills Move Through the Legislature
Once introduced, bills are assigned to committees for hearings and votes before reaching the full chamber.
Education-related committees include:
House of Delegates
- Ways and Means Committee — education policy
- Appropriations Committee — operating budget and capital projects
Senate
- Budget and Taxation Committee — education funding
- Education, Energy and Environment Committee — education policy
Committee hearings typically take place Tuesday through Thursday at 1 p.m.
How PGCPS Represents Students and Schools
2026 Legislative Priorities
The Board of Education has adopted priorities that guide advocacy efforts this session:
- Supporting students with disabilities
- Supporting academic achievement for multilingual learners
- Modernizing construction and facilities
- Ensuring safe and secure learning environments
Additional advocacy areas include local board autonomy, Blueprint implementation, school funding, educator recruitment and retention, student welfare, sustainability and charter school accountability.
View 2026 PGCPS Legislative Platform
The Budget: Challenges & Opportunities
Student outcomes are improving, as reflected in MCAP scores and the Maryland Report Card. As PGCPS plans for the next fiscal year, maintaining that progress comes amid significant budget pressure.
🚨 The Challenge
- $150 million projected FY27 budget gap
- 6.5% growth in operating costs
- 4.3% growth in Blueprint funding
- 42% decline in reserves from FY24 to FY25
Actions Already Underway
Under the direction of Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph, immediate steps are being taken to protect classrooms while reducing costs elsewhere:
- $50 million cut this year by scaling back non-essential spending, travel and contracts
- Hiring freeze on non-school-based positions (teachers, bus drivers and security staff continue to be hired)
- As of December 19, 2025 $102 million in potential FY27 reductions have been identified through contract consolidation, elimination of vacant positions and streamlined operations.
🟢 The Opportunity: Accelerating Progress
Our students are showing real growth reflected by progress on MCAP and the Maryland Report Card.
Additionally, in his first 100 days, Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph has established a clear direction demonstrated by concrete achievements in operational efficiency, accountability, and strategic alignment.
As we look ahead to the next fiscal year, our goal is to protect this momentum while facing one of our most significant budget challenges in a decade.
Continued investment is necessary to ensure high-quality outcomes across all schools.
Understanding the State Budget Process
Maryland’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30, and the budget advances alongside the legislative session.
How the budget moves:
- Introduced by the Governor and assigned to House Appropriations and Senate Budget and Taxation committees
- Subcommittees hold hearings and make recommendations
- Each chamber passes a version, followed by reconciliation through a conference committee
Budget timeline:
- Jan. 21: Governor submits proposed budget
- January – February: Committee hearings and testimony
- March: Active negotiations and fiscal note reviews
- April 6: Legislature must complete budget action
- April 13: If unresolved, the Governor calls an extended session limited to the budget
The Board of Education will represent PGCPS every week throughout the session and engage with every major stakeholder to advocate for our students and schools. We will provide you with the information you need to reach out to your representatives and protect the priorities that matter most for our children.
How You Can Stay Engaged
- Monitor legislation: Create a MyMGA account to track bills and hearings
- Contact your legislators: Find representatives. A phone call, email, or letter sharing how legislation would affect your family or school community can make a real difference.
- Attend Policy and Governance Committee meetings: Watch live or submit public comments
- Support your school PTA or parent leaders: Parent organizations play an important advocacy role
Resources
Contact
Dr. Phelton Moss
Chair, Policy and Governance Committee
Phelton.Moss@pgcps.org
Johntel Greene
Government Relations
Johntel@goodgov.ai