MarylandMaryland commission recognizes colleges supporting military-connected students
Maryland’s higher education commission recognizes colleges that apply and meet its criteria, including support for service members, veterans, and their families.
What it does
The commission recognizes colleges that apply and meet its criteria. To qualify, colleges must provide military-connected students with transition help, online resources, and staff training; a student-led transition program is required if appropriate.
The law updates which students count as military-connected under the Purple Star Schools Program, using State law’s service-member terms.
Argument forService members, veterans, and their families may get clearer help with starting college, planning courses, and finding support services.
Argument againstColleges seeking the designation may need to assign staff, maintain online resources, and offer training, which could take time and money from other work.
More detail
The Maryland Higher Education Commission designates a college as a Purple Star College if it applies and meets the commission’s criteria. Eligible colleges are institutions of higher education or private career schools. Military-connected students include service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents. The commission’s criteria must include a staff liaison, an accessible webpage with student resources, staff training, and a student-led transition program if appropriate. A college may partner with its governing body to meet the criteria. The law took effect July 1, 2026. The commission must adopt regulations to carry out the program.
The law changes the definition of “military-connected student” used in the Purple Star Schools Program. The definition covers a student who depends on a service member, or on a service member killed in the line of duty. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Approved by the Governor Wes Moore - Chapter 671Became Law
- Apr 8Returned Passed
- Apr 8Third Reading PassedPassed House
- Apr 7Favorable Adopted Second Reading PassedMinor
- Apr 7Favorable Report by AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 30Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m.
- Mar 30Hearing canceled
- Mar 26Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
- Mar 21Referred AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded On Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 20Third Reading PassedPassed Senate
- Mar 19Second Reading Passed
- Mar 19Favorable AdoptedMinor
- Mar 18Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentMinor
- Mar 5
- Vote recorded On Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6First Reading Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentIntroduced
EducationVeterans