The Education, Energy and the Environment and Elections Committee voted Jan. 15, 2025, to give Senate Bill 109 a favorable report, sending the measure to the Senate floor. The bill would require each county board of education to submit an annual certification to the Maryland State Ethics Commission that the board is in compliance with state public ethics laws and commission regulations.

Senator Cheryl Feldman, the committee chair, opened the item, saying, “we're gonna start with Senate Bill 109, and I think this could be one of the easier bills we have this session.” Stacy Goodman, the committee analyst, told the panel she identified a loophole during the interim: county boards of education are not currently subject to the same annual certification requirement as other local governments. Goodman explained the proposal would add county boards to the existing requirement and said the certification form “is very, very simple.”

The bill requires a single certification from each county board; it does not require individual members to file separate certifications. As Goodman stated during questions, “County Board of Education has to certify to the commission.” Committee members did not offer amendments.

Senator Washington moved a favorable report and Senator Brooks seconded. Chair Feldman called for a voice vote, asking, “All those in favor? Aye.” The committee recorded that Senator Gallien was not present; no roll call was requested. The motion carried and the committee approved SB 109 for the Senate floor.

Supporters said the bill closes a transparency gap by bringing county school boards into the same compliance and public-access framework that applies to other local governments. The committee did not take further action on implementation details at the hearing; the bill would send the requirement to the State Ethics Commission’s existing processes for handling certifications and public records.

The committee completed its hearings after approving SB 109 and will transmit the bill and committee report to the Senate calendar for further consideration.