DISSINTER

SB 983 — Maryland

Higher Education - Academic Program Approval - Objections Process Alteration and Study

Repealing the requirement that a proposed new academic program be a graduate program in order for the Maryland Higher Education Commission or institutions of higher education in the State to file an objection to implementation of the proposed program; requiring the Program Review Process Advisory Council to study and make recommendations on extending the objection process for certain proposed academic programs with consideration of certain legal precedence regarding unnecessary program duplication; etc.

Latest action: Hearing 4/08 at 1:00 p.m. · Mar 26, 2026

Passed one chamberClassifications and DesignationsCommittees and CommissionsHigher EducationHigher Education CommissionPrivate SchoolsReportsState Universities and CollegesStudiesSunset

Synopsis written by the legislature's own staff, as published on the official bill page. Status label is derived from the recorded actions. The full text below is the record.

Committees: Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate); Appropriations (House of Delegates)

Cross-filed with HB 1628 — the companion bill in the other chamber, as the legislature links it. Each bill keeps its own votes and status; they are never combined here.

Updated Apr 8, 2026

Timeline

  1. First Reading Senate Rules

    Feb 15, 2026 · Senate

  2. Rereferred to Education, Energy, and the Environment

    Mar 4, 2026 · Senate

  3. Hearing 3/17 at 1:00 p.m.

    Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

  4. Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

    Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

  5. Favorable with Amendments {

    Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

  6. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

  7. Third Reading Passed

    Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

  8. Referred Appropriations

    Mar 24, 2026 · House of Delegates

  9. Hearing 4/08 at 1:00 p.m.

    Mar 26, 2026 · House of Delegates

Sponsored by Cory McCray

Senate vote — 42–0

On Third Reading · Mar 7, 2026 · result: pass

42 yea · 0 nay · 5 absent, excused, abstain or not voting

Brian FeldmanDistrict 15YeaKatie HesterDistrict 9YeaKaren YoungDistrict 3YeaWill SmithDistrict 20YeaDalya AttarDistrict 41YeaBill FoldenDistrict 4YeaShelly HettlemanDistrict 11YeaSara LoveDistrict 16YeaCharles SydnorDistrict 44YeaMalcolm AugustineDistrict 47YeaJason GallionDistrict 35YeaCarl JacksonDistrict 8YeaJohnny MautzDistrict 37YeaJeff WaldstreicherDistrict 18YeaJack BaileyDistrict 29YeaDawn GileDistrict 33YeaJ.B. JenningsDistrict 7YeaCory McCrayDistrict 45YeaAlonzo WashingtonDistrict 22YeaPam BeidleDistrict 32YeaGuy GuzzoneDistrict 13YeaCheryl KaganDistrict 17YeaMike McKayDistrict 1YeaMary WashingtonDistrict 43YeaBen BrooksDistrict 10YeaKevin HarrisDistrict 27YeaNancy KingDistrict 39YeaJustin ReadyDistrict 5YeaRon WatsonDistrict 23YeaMary Beth CarozzaDistrict 38YeaAntonio HayesDistrict 40YeaBen KramerDistrict 19YeaJim RosapepeDistrict 21YeaChris WestDistrict 42YeaNick CharlesDistrict 25YeaShaneka HensonDistrict 30YeaClarence LamDistrict 12YeaJohnny SallingDistrict 6YeaCraig ZuckerDistrict 14YeaPaul CordermanDistrict 2YeaSteve HersheyDistrict 36YeaArthur EllisDistrict 28Not votingAnthony MuseDistrict 26Not votingJoanne BensonDistrict 24AbsentMary-Dulany JamesDistrict 34AbsentBryan SimonaireDistrict 31Absent
Mr. Presidentas recorded — not linked to a profileYea
Official record — Maryland General Assembly roll call

How we know this

Every line above comes from the Maryland General Assembly record via Open States. The motion text is shown as recorded, so a procedural vote (to amend, refer or reconsider) is not read as a vote on the bill itself. The source does not say which text version each vote was on; every version is linked below.

Fiscal and Policy Note — official analysis by legislative staff (PDF) Bill text (First reading) — Maryland General Assembly (PDF) Bill text (Third reading) — Maryland General Assembly (PDF) Official record — Maryland General Assembly bill page Report an error on this page

Official records. Maryland legislators, bills and roll-call votes from the Maryland General Assembly, imported through Open States on Oct 29, 2026. Accuracy review against the official site is still under way. Campaign-finance records for Maryland are not imported yet.