HB 868

HOUSE BILL 868
     F3  6lr3196
     HB 994/25 – W&M & JUD
     By: Delegate Conaway
     Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
     Assigned to: Ways and Means and Judiciary
  A BILL ENTITLED
1 AN ACT concerning
2  Baltimore City – Public Middle Schools – Instruction on the Consequences of a
3Conviction for Felony Murder
4 FOR the purpose of requiring the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners to develop
5      curriculum resources and develop and incorporate instruction on the consequences
6      of a conviction for felony murder for middle school students in Baltimore City public
7      schools; and generally relating to a required course on the consequences of a
8      conviction for felony murder for public middle school students in Baltimore City.
9 BY adding to
10      Article – Education
11      Section 7–213
12      Annotated Code of Maryland
13      (2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
14SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
15 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
16Article – Education
17 7–213.
18      (A) IN THIS SECTION, “CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION FOR FELONY
19 MURDER” MEANS THE LEGAL PENALTIES THAT TAKE AWAY AN INDIVIDUAL’S
20 FREEDOM, RIGHTS, AND ACCESS TO PROGRAMS OR SERVICES AFTER CONVICTION
21 FOR MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE UNDER § 2–201(A)(4) OF THE CRIMINAL LAW
22 ARTICLE.
23(B)     THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO BALTIMORE CITY.
     EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
  [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
  *hb0868*
2HOUSE BILL 868
1      (C)   (1)THE BALTIMORE CITY BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS
2 SHALL DEVELOP AGE–APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM RESOURCES FOR INSTRUCTION
3 ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION FOR FELONY MURDER FOR STUDENTS IN
4 GRADES 6 THROUGH 8 IN BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
5(2)THE BOARD SHALL DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE SUBJECT
6 AREA FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 8 TO INCORPORATE INSTRUCTION ON
7 THE CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION FOR FELONY MURDER.
8      (D)   BEGINNING IN THE 2027–2028 SCHOOL YEAR, THE BOARD SHALL
9 DEVELOP AND INCORPORATE INSTRUCTION BASED ON THE CURRICULUM
10 RESOURCES ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION FOR FELONY MURDER
11 DEVELOPED UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION.
12      (E)   THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER SHALL ENSURE THAT EACH STUDENT
13 IS INSTRUCTED ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION FOR FELONY MURDER AT
14 LEAST ONCE DURING GRADES 6 THROUGH 8.
15SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
16 1, 2026.