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HB0834 • 2026

Family Law - Child Neglect Definition - Alteration

Family Law - Child Neglect Definition - Alteration

Children Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Delegate Schindler
Last action
2026-02-05
Official status
In the House - Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date
2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Family Law - Child Neglect Definition - Alteration

Altering the definition of child neglect to include the failure or refusal to provide to a child the education required by law.

What This Bill Does

  • Altering the definition of child neglect to include the failure or refusal to provide to a child the education required by law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-05 House

    Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.

  2. 2026-02-04 House

    First Reading Judiciary

  3. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Family Law - Child Neglect Definition - Alteration

Official Summary Text

Altering the definition of child neglect to include the failure or refusal to provide to a child the education required by law.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0834*

HOUSE BILL 834
D4 6lr2936
CF 6lr2938
By: Delegate Schindler
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Family Law – Child Neglect Definition – Alteration 2

FOR the purpose of altering the definition of child neglect to include the failure or refusal 3
to provide to a child the education required by law; and generally relating to child 4
neglect. 5

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Family Law 7
Section 5–701(a) and (e) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Family Law 12
Section 5–701(s) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17

Article – Family Law 18

5–701. 19

(a) Except as otherwise provided in § 5–705.1 of this subtitle, in this subtitle the 20
following words have the meanings indicated. 21

(e) “Child” means any individual under the age of 18 years. 22

2 HOUSE BILL 834

(s) (1) “Neglect” means the leaving of a child unattended or other failure to 1
give proper care and attention to a child by any parent or other person who has permanent 2
or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child under 3
circumstances that indicate: 4

[(1)] (I) that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or placed at 5
substantial risk of harm; or 6

[(2)] (II) mental injury to the child or a substantial risk of mental injury. 7

(2) “NEGLECT” INCLUDES THE FAILURE OR REFUSAL TO PROVIDE TO 8
A CHILD THE EDUCATIO N REQUIRED BY LAW BY ANY PARENT OR OTHER PERSON 9
WHO HAS PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY CARE OR CUSTODY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR 10
SUPERVISION OF THE CHILD. 11

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall tak e effect 12
October 1, 2026. 13