Higher Education - Tuition Exemption for Foster Care Recipients - Eligibility

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0982*

HOUSE BILL 982
F2 6lr3148
CF SB 864
By: Delegates Mireku–North, Ruff, Smith, and Wilkins
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Appropriations
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 23, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Higher Education – Tuition Exemption for Foster Care Recipients – Eligibility 2

FOR the purpose of altering the definition of a “foster care recipient” to alter a certain age 3
for purposes of determining eligibility for a certain tuition exemption; and generally 4
relating to tuition exemptions for foster care recipients. 5

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Education 7
Section 15–106.1(a)(1) and (b)(1) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Education 12
Section 15–106.1(a)(2) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2022 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 – Education 18

15–106.1. 19

2 HOUSE BILL 982

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 1

(2) (i) “Foster care recipient” means an individual who: 2

1. Was placed in an out –of–home placement by the 3
Department of Human Services; and 4

2. A. Resided in an out –of–home placement on the 5
individual’s 18th birthday or at the time the individual graduated from high school or 6
successfully completed a GED; or 7

B. Resided in an out –of–home placement on or after the 8
individual’s [13th] 8TH birthday for at least 1 year and was placed into guardianship, 9
adopted, or reunited with at least one of the individual’s parents. 10

(ii) “Foster care recipient” includes a younger sibling of an individual 11
described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph if the younger sibling is concurrently placed 12
into guardianship or adopted out of an out –of–home placement by the same guardianship 13
or adoptive family. 14

(b) (1) A foster care recipient or homeless youth is exempt from paying any 15
tuition at a public institution of higher education, regardless of that foster care recipient’s 16
or homeless youth’s receipt of any scholarship or grant if: 17

(i) The foster care recipient or homeless youth is enrolled at the 18
institution on or before the date that the foster care recipient or homeless youth reaches 19
the age of 25 years; 20

(ii) The foster care recipient or homeless youth is enrolled as a 21
candidate for a vocational certificate, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree; and 22

(iii) The foster care recipient o r homeless youth has filed for federal 23
and State financial aid. 24

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 25
1, 2026. 26