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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0555*
HOUSE BILL 555
F2 6lr2469
CF SB 364
By: The Speaker (By Request – Department of Legislative Services – Code
Revision)
Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2026
Assigned to: Appropriations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Code Revision – Higher Education – Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance 2
Repayment Program 3
FOR the purpose of revising, restating, and recodifying the laws of this State relating to 4
the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program; and generally relating 5
to laws relating to the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program. 6
BY renumbering 7
Article – Education 8
Section 18–1503 through 18–1506 9
to be Section 18–1506 through 18–1509, respectively 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Education 14
Section 18–1502 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That Section(s) 18–1503 through 18–1506 of Article – Education of the Annotated Code of 19
Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 18–1506 through 18–1509, respectively. 20
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 21
as follows: 22
Article – Education 23
18–1502. 24
2 HOUSE BILL 555
(a) There is a program of loan assistance repayment known as the Janet L. 1
Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program in the State. 2
(B) THE FOLLOWING INDIVID UALS ARE ELIGIBLE FO R FINANCIAL 3
ASSISTANCE UNDER THE PROGRAM: 4
(1) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEIVES A GRADUATE, PROFESSIONAL, OR 5
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM: 6
(I) A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND; 7
(II) A SCHOOL OF LAW IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND; OR 8
(III) FOR A VETERINARY PRAC TITIONER OR VETERINA RY 9
TECHNICIAN, AN ACCREDITED VETERINARY COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY; 10
(2) A LICENSED CLINICAL AL COHOL AND DRUG COUNS ELOR, A 11
LICENSED CLINICAL MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY COUNSELOR, OR A LICENSED 12
CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR WHO IS ELIGIBLE UNDER § 18–1503 OF THIS 13
SUBTITLE; OR 14
(3) AN EDUCATION –RELATED PROFESSIONAL WHO QUALIFIES 15
UNDER § 18–1504 OF THIS SUBTITLE WHO: 16
(I) RECEIVES A RESIDENT TEACHER LICENSE FROM THE 17
DEPARTMENT AFTER COMP LETING AN ALTERNATIV E TEACHING PREPARATI ON 18
PROGRAM APPROVED BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT; 19
(II) FOR A MENTAL HEALTH P ROFESSIONAL, RECEIVES A 20
GRADUATE, PROFESSIONAL, OR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM ANY ACCREDITED 21
COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY; OR 22
(III) IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. 23
REVISOR’S NOTE: Subsection (b)(1) of this section is new language from former § 24
18–1502(b)(1) of this subtitle added for clarity. 25
Subsection (b)(1)(iii) of this section is new language derived without 26
substantive change from former § 18–1502(d) of this subtitle. 27
Subsection (b)(2) of this section is derived without substantive change from 28
former § 18–1502(h) of this subtitle. 29
HOUSE BILL 555 3
Subsection (b)(3) of this section is derived without substantive change from 1
former §§ 18–1502(b)(1)(ii) and (c)(1) and (2) of this subtitle. 2
18–1503. 3
[(b)] (A) The Office [of Student Financial Assistance ] shall assist in the 4
repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by an ELIGIBLE individual 5
UNDER § 18–1502(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE who: 6
(1) [(i) Receives a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from: 7
1. A college or university in the State of Maryland; 8
2. A school of law; 9
3. For a mental health professional, any accredited college or 10
university; or 11
4. For a veterinary practitioner or veterinary technician, any 12
accredited veterinary college or university; or 13
(ii) Receives a Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) from the 14
Department after completing an alternative teaching preparation program approved by the 15
State Superintendent; 16
(2)] Obtains eligible employment; 17
[(3)] (2) Receives an income that is less than the maximum eligible total 18
income levels established by the Office, including any additional sources of income; and 19
[(4)] (3) Satisfies any other criteria established by the Office. 20
[(c)] (B) Subject to the provisions of [subsection (b)] § 18–1502 of this [section] 21
SUBTITLE, the Office shall assist in the repayment of the amount of any higher education 22
loan owed by a VETERINARY PRACTITIO NER WHO HAS PROVIDED VETERINARY 23
SERVICES OR A VETERI NARY TECHNICIAN WHO HAS PROVIDED VETERIN ARY 24
TECHNICIAN SERVICES AS: 25
(1) AN EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE FOR A PERIOD NO T LESS THAN 5 26
YEARS; OR 27
(2) A VOLUNTEER FOR A MINIMUM OF 100 HOURS PER YEAR FOR A 28
PERIOD NOT LESS THAN 3 YEARS AT AN ANIMAL SHELTER THAT IS OWNED BY: 29
(I) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT; 30
4 HOUSE BILL 555
(II) AN ORGANIZATION CONTR ACTED TO PERFORM ANI MAL 1
CONTROL SERVICES FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT; OR 2
(III) AN ORGANIZ ATION THAT SHELTERS ANIMALS AND WAS A 3
RECIPIENT OF THE MARYLAND SPAY AND NEUTER GRANTS PROGRAM DURING THE 4
PRIOR YEAR. 5
(C) SUBJECT TO THE PROVIS IONS OF § 18–1502 OF THIS SUBTITLE , THE 6
OFFICE SHALL ASSIST I N THE REPAYMENT OF T HE AMOUNT OF ANY HIG HER 7
EDUCATION LOAN OWED BY A L ICENSED CLINICAL ALC OHOL AND DRUG 8
COUNSELOR, A LICENSED CLINICAL MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY COUNSELOR, 9
OR A LICENSED CLINIC AL PROFESSIONAL COUN SELOR WHOSE PRACTICE IS 10
LOCATED IN A HIGH –NEED GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF THE STATE AS DETERMINED B Y 11
THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. 12
REVISOR’S NOTE: This section is new language derived without substantive 13
change from former § 18–1502 of this subtitle. 14
Subsection (b) of this section is derived without substantive change from 15
former § 18–1502(d) of this subtitle. 16
Subsection (c) of this section is derived without substantive change from 17
former § 18–1502(h) of this subtitle. 18
The only other changes were in style. 19
18–1504. 20
(A) SUBJECT TO THE PROVIS IONS OF § 18–1502 OF THIS SUBTITLE , THE 21
OFFICE SHALL ASSIST IN THE REPAYMENT OF THE AMO UNT OF ANY HIGHER 22
EDUCATION LOAN OWED BY AN EDUCATION –RELATED PROFESSIONAL DESCRIBED 23
IN THIS SECTION. 24
(B) (1) A GRANT AWARDED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL B E KNOWN AS 25
THE NANCY GRASMICK PUBLIC SCHOOL PROFESSIONAL AWARD. 26
(2) A RECIPIENT OF A NANCY GRASMICK PUBLIC SCHOOL 27
PROFESSIONAL AWARD SHALL BE KNOWN AS A NANCY GRASMICK PUBLIC SCHOOL 28
PROFESSIONAL SCHOLAR. 29
(C) [(1) Public] A PUBLIC school teacher in the State [who] QUALIFIES FOR 30
REPAYMENT UNDER THE PROGRAM IF THE INDIVIDUAL: 31
HOUSE BILL 555 5
[(i)] (1) Has taught in Maryland for at least 2 years: 1
[1.] (I) In science, technology, engineering, fine arts, or 2
math subjects; 3
[2.] (II) In a school in which at least [the following 4
percentages of the ] 55% OF students are enrolled in the free and reduced price lunch 5
program in the State[: 6
A. 75% through June 30, 2025; and 7
B. 55% beginning July 1, 2025]; or 8
[3.] (III) In a school that: 9
[A.] 1. Had Title I status during the 2018 –2019 school 10
year; 11
[B.] 2. Lost Title I status after the 2018–2019 school year; 12
and 13
[C.] 3. Participates in the United States Department of 14
Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision; and 15
[(ii)] (2) Has received a performance evaluation rating for the most 16
recent year available in the county in which the teacher taught[;]. 17
[(2)] (D) [Mental] A MENTAL health professional [who] QUALIFIES FOR 18
REPAYMENT UNDER THE PROGRAM IF THE INDIV IDUAL has provided mental health 19
services in a public school for at least 2 years as an employee of: 20
[(i)] (1) A county school system; or 21
[(ii)] (2) A local health department through an agreement with a 22
county board[; or]. 23
[(3)] (E) [Nurse who] A NURSE QUALIFIES FOR REPAYMENT UNDER 24
THE PROGRAM IF THE INDIVIDUAL has been a school nurse for at least 2 years. 25
[(d) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Office shall assist 26
in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by: 27
(1) A veterinarian practitioner who has provided veterinary services as: 28
(i) An employee in the State for a period not less than 5 years; or 29
6 HOUSE BILL 555
(ii) A volunteer for a minimum of 100 hours per year for a period not 1
less than 3 years at an animal shelter that is owned by: 2
1. A local government; 3
2. An organization contracted to perform animal control 4
services for a local government; or 5
3. An organization that shelters animals and was a recipient 6
of the Maryland Spay and Neuter Grants Program during the prior year; or 7
(2) A veterinary technician who has provided veterinary technician 8
services as: 9
(i) An employee in the State for a period not less than 5 years; or 10
(ii) A volunteer for a minimum of 100 hours per year for a period not 11
less than 3 years at an animal shelter that is owned by: 12
1. A local government; 13
2. An organization contracted to perform animal control 14
services for a local government; or 15
3. An organization that shelters animals and was a recipient 16
of the Maryland Spay and Neuter Grants Program during the prior year. 17
(e) (1) A grant awarded under subsection (c) of this section shall be known as 18
the Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Award. 19
(2) A recipient of a Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Award shall 20
be known as a Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Scholar.] 21
REVISOR’S NOTE: Subsection (a) of this section is new language added to clarify 22
the scope of the section. 23
Subsection (b) of this section is derived without substantive change from § 24
18–1502(e) of this subtitle. 25
Subsection (c) of this section is derived without substantive change from § 26
18–1502(c)(1) of this subtitle . New subsection (c)(1)(ii) removes obsole te 27
language and adds “55% of” for clarity. 28
Subsection (d) of this section is derived without substantive change from § 29
18–1502(c)(2) of this subtitle. 30
HOUSE BILL 555 7
Subsection ( e) of this section is derived without substantive change from § 1
18–1502(c)(3) of this subtitle. 2
The only other changes were in style. 3
18–1505. 4
[(f)] (A) An applicant for assistance in the repayment of a commercial loan shall 5
demonstrate to the Office that the commercial loan was used for tuition, educational 6
expenses, or living expenses for graduate or undergraduate study. 7
[(g)] (B) Assistance in the repayment of a loan from an entity set forth in § 8
18–1501(c)(2) of this subtitle shall require the approval of the Office. 9
[(h) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Office shall assist 10
in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by a licensed clinical 11
alcohol and drug counselor, a licensed clinical marriage and family therapy counselor, or a 12
licensed clinical professional counselor whose practice is located in a high–need geographic 13
area of the State as determined by the Maryland Department of Health.] 14
REVISOR’S NOTE: This section is derived without substantive change from former 15
§ 18–1502(f) and (g) of this subsection. 16
The only changes were in style. 17
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the General 18
Assembly that, except as expressly provided in this Act, this Act shall be construed as a 19
nonsubstantive revision, and may not otherwise be construed to render any substantive 20
change in the law of the State. 21
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Revisor’s Notes contained 22
in this Act are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as part of this Act. 23
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the publisher of the 24
Annotated Code of Maryland, in consultation with and subject to the approval of the 25
Department of Legislative Services, shall correct, with no further action required by the 26
General Assembly, cross–references and terminology rendered incorrect by this Act or by 27
any other Act of the General Assembly of 2026 that affects provisions enacted by this Act. 28
The publisher shall adequately describe any correction that is made in an editor’s note 29
following the section affected. 30
SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 31
1, 2026. 32