EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G 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.
*sb0543*
SENATE BILL 543
F2 4lr1571
CF HB 4
By: Senator Brooks
Introduced and read first time: January 25, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 21, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Institutions of Higher Education – Admissions Standards – Prohibition on 2
Consideration of Legacy Preference or Donor Preference 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting certain institutions of higher education from considering a 4
legacy preference or donor preference as an eligible criterion for admissions 5
standards at the institution; and generally relating to admissions standards and 6
institutions of higher education. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Education 9
Section 10–101(a) and (h) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Education 14
Section 26–901 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 9. Consideration of Legacy 15
Preference Preferences in the Admissions Process” 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Education 21 2 SENATE BILL 543
10–101. 1
(a) In this division the following words have the meanings indicated. 2
(h) (1) “Institution of higher education” means an institution of postsecondary 3
education that generally limits enrollment to graduates of secondary schools, and awards 4
degrees at either the associate, baccalaureate, or graduate level. 5
(2) “Institution of higher education” includes public, private nonprofit, and 6
for–profit institutions of higher education. 7
SUBTITLE 9. CONSIDERATION OF LEGACY PREFERENCE PREFERENCES IN THE 8
ADMISSIONS PROCESS. 9
26–901. 10
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 11
INDICATED. 12
(2) “DONOR PREFERENCE ” MEANS A PREFERENCE G IVEN TO AN 13
APPLICANT TO AN INST ITUTION OF HIGHER ED UCATION BY THE INSTI TUTION BASED 14
ON THE APPLICANT ’S FAMILIAL RELATIONS HIP TO A PERSON WHO PROVIDES 15
FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE INSTITUTION . 16
(3) “LEGACY LEGACY PREFERENCE ” MEANS A PREFE RENCE GIVEN 17
TO AN APPLICANT TO A N INSTITUTION OF HIG HER EDUCATION BY THE INSTITUTION 18
BASED ON THE APPLICA NT’S FAMILIAL RELATIONS HIP TO AN ALUM OF TH E 19
INSTITUTION. 20
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN 21
THE STATE THAT RECEIVES STATE FUNDS. 22
(C) (1) AN INSTITUTION OF HIG HER EDUCATION MAY NO T CONSIDER A 23
LEGACY PREFERENCE OR DONOR PREFERENCE AS AN ELIGIBLE CRITE RION FOR 24
ADMISSION STANDARDS TO THE INSTITUTION . 25
(2) AN INSTITUTION OF HIG HER EDUCATION MAY AS K APPLICANTS 26
TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT FA MILIAL RELATIONSHIPS TO ALUMS OF THE 27
INSTITUTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTIN G DATA. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 29
1, 2024. 30