Washington County - Juveniles - Truancy Reduction Pilot Program

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.
*hb1457*

HOUSE BILL 1457
E3 6lr1535
CF SB 715
By: Washington County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Washington County – Juveniles – Truancy Reduction Pilot Program 2

FOR the purpose of authorizing the Circuit Administrative Judge of the Fourth Circuit to 3
establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program in the juvenile court in Washington 4
County; and generally relating to Truancy Reduction Pilot Programs. 5

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 7
Section 3–8C–01 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 12
Section 3–8C–02 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2020 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 – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 18

3–8C–01. 19

2 HOUSE BILL 1457

This subtitle applies only: 1

(1) In a county in which the circuit administrative judge has established a 2
Truancy Reduction Pilot Program under § 3–8C–02 of this subtitle; and 3

(2) To the extent that funds are provided in an annual State budg et for a 4
Truancy Reduction Pilot Program. 5

3–8C–02. 6

(a) (1) The Circuit Administrative Judge of the First Circuit may establish a 7
Truancy Reduction Pilot Program in one or more of the juvenile courts in Dorchester 8
County, Somerset County, Wicomico County, and Worcester County. 9

(2) The Circuit Administrative Judge of the Second Circuit may establish 10
a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program in the juvenile courts in Kent County and Talbot 11
County. 12

(3) The Circuit Administrative Judge of the Third Circuit may establish a 13
Truancy Reduction Pilot Program in the juvenile court in Harford County. 14

(4) THE CIRCUIT ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE OF THE FOURTH CIRCUIT 15
MAY ESTABLISH A TRUANCY REDUCTION PILOT PROGRAM IN THE JUVENILE COURT 16
IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. 17

[(4)] (5) The Circuit Administrative Judge of the Sixth Circuit may 18
establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program in the juvenile court in Frederick County. 19

[(5)] (6) The Circuit Administrative Judge of the Seventh Circuit may 20
establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Progr am in the juvenile court in Prince George’s 21
County. 22

(b) After consultation with the administrative judges of the first, second, third, 23
FOURTH, sixth, and seventh circuits, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland 24
may accept a gift or grant to implement the pilot programs in each respective circuit. 25

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
October 1, 2026. 27