HB 781

HOUSE BILL 781
     F1  6lr3185
     HB 993/25 – 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   Public Middle Schools – Instruction on the Consequences of a Conviction for
3Felony Murder
4 FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Education to develop curriculum resources
5      and county boards of education to develop and incorporate instruction on the
6      consequences of a conviction for felony murder for public middle school students in
7      the State; and generally relating to required instruction on the consequences of a
8      conviction for felony murder for public middle school students.
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)     (1)     THE      STATE      BOARD
  SHALL DEVELOP AGE–APPROPRIATE
24 CURRICULUM RESOURCES FOR INSTRUCTION ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF A
     EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
  [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
  *hb0781*
2HOUSE BILL 781
1 CONVICTION FOR FELONY MURDER FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 8 IN
2 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.
3(2) THE STATE BOARD SHALL DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE
4 SUBJECT AREA FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 8 TO INCORPORATE THE
5 INSTRUCTION ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION FOR FELONY MURDER.
6      (C)   (1)   BEGINNING IN THE 2027–2028 SCHOOL YEAR, EACH COUNTY
7 BOARD SHALL DEVELOP AND INCORPORATE INSTRUCTION BASED ON THE
8 CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION FOR FELONY MURDER CURRICULUM RESOURCES
9 DEVELOPED BY THE STATE BOARD UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION.
10(2)   EACH COUNTY BOARD SHALL ENSURE THAT EACH STUDENT IS
11 INSTRUCTED ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION FOR FELONY MURDER AT
12 LEAST ONCE DURING GRADES 6 THROUGH 8.
13      (D)   THE STATE BOARD MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS
14 SECTION.
15SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
16 1, 2026.