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HB1313 • 2026

Higher Education - Tuition Exemption - Incarcerated Individuals

Higher Education - Tuition Exemption - Incarcerated Individuals

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Delegates Embry , Lehman , Pasteur , and Taveras
Last action
2026-03-11
Official status
In the House - Hearing 3/11 at 1:35 p.m. (Appropriations)
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

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

Higher Education - Tuition Exemption - Incarcerated Individuals

Establishing that incarcerated individuals are exempt, subject to certain conditions, from paying tuition at public institutions of higher education in the State.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishing that incarcerated individuals are exempt, subject to certain conditions, from paying tuition at public institutions of higher education in the State.

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. 2026-03-11 House

    Hearing canceled (Appropriations)

  2. 2026-03-11 House

    Hearing 3/11 at 1:35 p.m. (Appropriations)

  3. 2026-02-17 House

    Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. (Appropriations)

  4. 2026-02-12 House

    First Reading Appropriations and Government, Labor, and Elections

  5. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Higher Education - Tuition Exemption - Incarcerated Individuals

Official Summary Text

Establishing that incarcerated individuals are exempt, subject to certain conditions, from paying tuition at public institutions of higher education in the State.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1313*

HOUSE BILL 1313
F2 6lr2612

By: Delegates Embry, Lehman, Pasteur, and Taveras
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2026
Assigned to: Appropriations and Government, Labor, and Elections

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Higher Education – Tuition Exemption – Incarcerated Individuals 2

FOR the purpose of establishing that incarcerated individuals are exempt , subject to 3
certain conditions, from paying tuition at public institutions of higher education in 4
the State; and generally relating to a tuition exemption for incarcerated individuals. 5

BY adding to 6
Article – Education 7
Section 15–106.12 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12

Article – Education 13

15–106.12. 14

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 15
INDICATED. 16

(2) “INCARCERATED INDIVIDU AL” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 17
1–101 OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ARTICLE. 18

(3) (I) “TUITION” MEANS THE CHARGES IM POSED BY A PUBLIC 19
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ENROLLMENT AT THE INSTITUTION. 20

(II) “TUITION” INCLUDES CHARGES FOR REGISTRA TION AND 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1313

ALL FEES REQUIRED AS A CONDITION OF ENROL LMENT IN CREDIT–BEARING AND 1
NONCREDIT COURSES OFFERED DURING THE FALL, WINTER, SPRING, OR SUMMER 2
TERM. 3

(B) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , AN 4
INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL IS EXEMPT FROM PA YING ANY TUITION AT A PUBLIC 5
INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R EDUCATION IN THE STATE REGARDLESS OF THE 6
INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL’S RECEIPT OF ANY SCHOLARSHIP OR GRANT. 7

(C) (1) IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE EXEMPTION UNDER THIS SECTION, AN 8
INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL SHALL SUBMIT A TIMELY APPLICATION FOR ANY STATE 9
OR FEDERAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID, OTHER THAN A STUDENT LOAN, FOR WHICH 10
THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL MAY QUALIFY. 11

(2) ANY STUDENT FINANCIAL AID, OTHER THAN A STUDENT LOAN, 12
RECEIVED BY THE INCA RCERATED INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE APPLIED FIR ST TO PAY 13
THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL’S TUITION. 14

(3) THE EXEMPTION UNDER T HIS SECTION SHALL AP PLY TO THE 15
DIFFERENCE, IF ANY, BETWEEN THE CHARGE FOR TUITION AND THE FINANCIAL AID 16
AWARD, NOT INCLUDING A STUDENT LOAN, THAT THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL 17
RECEIVES. 18

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 19
1, 2026. 20