EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0552*
SENATE BILL 552
F1 5lr3211
CF HB 688
By: Senator Augustine
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Education – High School Graduation Requirements – Financial Aid Application 2
FOR the purpose of requiring each public high school student, beginning in a certain school 3
year, to complete and submit a certain financial aid form to the U.S. Department of 4
Education, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, or a county board of 5
education as a requirement for graduation; and generally relating to graduation 6
requirements for public high school students. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Education 9
Section 7–205.1(b) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Education 14
Section 7–205.1(m) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Education 20
7–205.1. 21
(b) (1) The State Board shall establish high school curriculum, college and 22
career readiness standards, and graduation requirements for all public schools in 23
accordance with this section. 24
2 SENATE BILL 552
(2) The State Board shall coordinate and consult with the Maryland Higher 1
Education Commission, the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, the Maryland 2
Association of Community Colleges, and the Accountability and Implementation Board in 3
performing its duties under this subsection. 4
(M) (1) BEGINNING IN THE 2026–2027 SCHOOL YEAR , AND EXCEPT AS 5
PROVIDED IN PARAGRAP HS (2) AND (3) OF THIS SUBSEC TION, EACH STUDENT , AS A 6
REQUIREMENT FOR GRAD UATION, SHALL COMPLETE AND S UBMIT: 7
(I) THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID 8
(FAFSA) TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; OR 9
(II) THE MARYLAND STATE FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION 10
(MSFAA) TO THE MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION. 11
(2) A STUDENT OR THE PAREN T OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF A MINOR 12
STUDENT MAY SUBMIT T O THE COUNTY BOARD A FORM SIGNED BY THE S TUDENT OR 13
THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF THE MINO R STUDENT STATING TH AT THE 14
STUDENT UNDERSTANDS THE FAFSA OR MSFAA AND DECLINES TO COMP LETE 15
AND SUBMIT THE FAFSA OR MSFAA. 16
(3) A COUNTY BOARD SHALL W AIVE THE REQUIREMENT IN 17
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION I F: 18
(I) 1. A STUDENT COMPLETES AL L OTHER REQUIREMENTS 19
FOR GRADUATION IN TH IS SECTION; AND 20
2. THE STUDENT ’S PRINCIPAL ATTESTS THAT THE 21
STUDENT HAS MADE A G OOD FAITH EFFORT TO COMPLETE THE FAFSA OR MSFAA; 22
OR 23
(II) A PARENT OR LEGAL GUAR DIAN OF A STUDENT RE QUESTS A 24
WAIVER DUE TO EXTENU ATING CIRCUMSTANCES . 25
(4) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL AD OPT REGULATIONS TO 26
IMPLEMENT THE REQUIR EMENTS OF THIS SUBSE CTION. 27
(II) THE REGULATIONS ADOPT ED UNDER THIS PARAGR APH 28
SHALL INCLUDE GUIDEL INES TO ENSURE THAT EACH STUDENT RECEIVE S 29
ADEQUATE SUPPORT IN COMPLETING AND SUBMI TTING THE FAFSA OR MSFAA. 30
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before July 1 each year, 31
beginning in 2027 and ending in 2032, each county board shall report to the Senate 32
Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Committee on Ways 33 SENATE BILL 552 3
and Means, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on: 1
(1) the number of students who completed and submitted the Free 2
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Maryland State Financial Aid 3
Application (MSFAA) in the immediately preceding school year; 4
(2) the number of students who declined to complete and submit the 5
FAFSA or the MSFAA in the immediately preceding school year; and 6
(3) the number of students who received a waiver under this Act in the 7
immediately preceding school year. 8
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2025. 10