Text of MD HB 875 (2025)
Commission on History, Culture, and Civics in Education
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As introduced
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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0875*
HOUSE BILL 875
F1
5lr2999
HB 50/24 – W&M
By: Delegates Acevero, Alston, Crutchfield, Hill, Martinez, Roberson, Ruff, Taylor,
Toles, Williams, Woods, Woorman, Wu, and Young
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning
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Commission on History, Culture, and Civics in Education
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FOR the purpose of establishing the Commission on History, Culture, and Civics in
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Education to make recommendations to the State Board of Education and the State
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Department of Education to further the discovery, interpretation, and learning of
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the history, culture, and civics of the United States and Maryland and provide
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equitable learning outcomes consistent with certain provisions of the Blueprint for
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Maryland’s Future; and generally relating to the Commission on History, Culture,
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and Civics in Education.
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BY adding to
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Article – Education
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Section 7–136
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Annotated Code of Maryland
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(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
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SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
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That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
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Article – Education
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7–136.
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(A)
(1)
THERE IS A COMMISSION ON HISTORY, CULTURE, AND CIVICS IN
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EDUCATION.
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(2)
THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION IS TO:
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(I)
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE BOARD AND THE
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HOUSE BILL 875
DEPARTMENT TO FURTHER THE DISCOVERY, INTERPRETATION, AND LEARNING OF
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THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND CIVICS OF THE UNITED STATES AND MARYLAND; AND
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(II) PROVIDE EQUITABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES REGARDLESS
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OF A STUDENT’S FAMILY INCOME, RACE, ETHNICITY, DISABILITY, OR OTHER
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CHARACTERISTICS CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR
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MARYLAND’S FUTURE IN § 1–303 OF THIS ARTICLE.
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(B)
(1)
THE COMMISSION CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS
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APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FROM A LIST OF NOMINEES:
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(I)
TWO MEMBERS REPRESENTING MARYLAND’S INDIGENOUS
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AMERICAN TRIBES, WHICH INCLUDE THE LENAPE, NANTICOKE, PISCATAWAY,
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CONOY, POWHATAN, ACCOHANNOCK, SHAWNEE, SUSQUEHANNOCK, TUTELO, AND
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SAPONI TRIBES, NOMINATED BY THE MARYLAND COMMISSION ON INDIAN AFFAIRS;
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(II)
TWO
MEMBERS
REPRESENTING
THE
MARYLAND
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LGBTQIA+
COMMUNITY,
ONE
OF
WHOM
IDENTIFIES
AS
TRANSGENDER,
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NOMINATED BY THE MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE LGBTQIA+ CAUCUS;
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(III) TWO MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE MARYLAND DISABLED
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COMMUNITY, NOMINATED BY THE SECRETARY OF DISABILITIES;
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(IV) TWO MEMBERS WHO ARE TEACHERS OR HOLD A TEACHING
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LICENSE IN THE STATE:
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1.
ONE OF WHOM IS NOMINATED BY THE BALTIMORE
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TEACHER’S UNION; AND
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2.
ONE OF WHOM IS NOMINATED BY THE MARYLAND
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STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION;
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(V)
TWO MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE MARYLAND LATINO
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COMMUNITY, NOMINATED BY THE MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE LATINO CAUCUS;
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(VI) TWO MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE MARYLAND AFRICAN
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AMERICAN COMMUNITY, NOMINATED BY THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS OF
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MARYLAND;
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(VII) TWO MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE MARYLAND ASIAN
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AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY, NOMINATED BY THE MARYLAND
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LEGISLATIVE ASIAN–AMERICAN AND PACIFIC–ISLANDER CAUCUS;
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HOUSE BILL 875
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(VIII) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, TWO
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MEMBERS REPRESENTING HIGHER EDUCATION:
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1.
ONE OF WHOM IS NOMINATED BY THE CHANCELLOR
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OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND; AND
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2.
ONE OF WHOM IS NOMINATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF
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THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES; AND
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(IX) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, OR THE STATE
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SUPERINTENDENT’S DESIGNEE.
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(2)
THE INDIVIDUALS CONSIDERED FOR NOMINATION BY THE
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CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND UNDER PARAGRAPH
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(1)(VIII)1 OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS WHO REPRESENT
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HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE.
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(C)
(1)
TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE
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COMMISSION SHALL REFLECT THE GENDER, RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND GEOGRAPHIC
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DIVERSITY OF THE STATE.
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(2)
A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE
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CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE OR EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING EDUCATION CONTENT
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STANDARDS.
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(D)
(1)
THE TERM OF A MEMBER IS 4 YEARS.
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(2)
THE TERMS OF MEMBERS ARE STAGGERED AS REQUIRED BY THE
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TERMS PROVIDED FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON JULY 1, 2025.
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(E)
THE COMMISSION MEMBERS SHALL ELECT A CHAIR FROM AMONG THE
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MEMBERS.
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(F)
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE COMMISSION.
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(G)
A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION:
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(1)
MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE
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COMMISSION; BUT
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(2)
IS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE
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STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET.
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HOUSE BILL 875
(H)
THE COMMISSION SHALL:
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(1)
EXAMINE THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND CIVICS OF THE UNITED
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STATES AND MARYLAND, INCLUDING:
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(I)
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICAN INDIANS, LATINOS,
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AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND ASIAN AMERICANS;
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(II)
THE
CONTRIBUTIONS
OF
LESBIAN,
GAY,
BISEXUAL,
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TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE MINORITY GROUPS;
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(III) THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL AND
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CULTURAL FEATURES WITHIN THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES;
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(IV) THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND PERSECUTION OF RELIGIOUS
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MINORITIES;
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(V)
THE
CONTRIBUTIONS
OF
THE MARYLAND
DISABLED
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COMMUNITY; AND
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(VI) THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN;
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(2)
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE BOARD REGARDING
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THE ADOPTION OF STANDARDS AND PROGRAMS THAT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE
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DISCOVERY, INTERPRETATION, AND LEARNING OF THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND
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CIVICS OF THE UNITED STATES AND MARYLAND;
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(3)
MAKE ALL ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS OF THE COMMISSION
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AVAILABLE ON THE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE, INCLUDING:
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(I)
LIVE
AND
ARCHIVED
VIDEO
STREAMING
OF
EACH
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COMMISSION MEETING;
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(II)
MEETING AGENDAS, MATERIALS, AND NOTES; AND
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(III) COMMISSION REPORTS; AND
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(4)
USE
MULTIPLE
COMMUNICATIONS
METHODS
TO
PROVIDE
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UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS RELATED TO THE COMMISSION.
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(I)
ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 30 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2025, THE
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COMMISSION SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE
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BOARD, THE GOVERNOR, AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE
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HOUSE BILL 875
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GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
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(J)
ON OR BEFORE JULY 1 EACH YEAR, THE STATE BOARD SHALL:
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(1)
REVIEW THE COMMISSION’S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS;
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AND
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(2)
MAKE ANY APPROPRIATE CHANGES TO THE EDUCATIONAL
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STANDARDS FOR PREKINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12.
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SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the terms of the initial
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members of the Commission on History, Culture, and Civics in Education shall expire as
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follows:
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(1)
the eight members representing the indigenous American tribes,
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Maryland Latino community, African American community, and Asian American and
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Pacific Islander community in 2027; and
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(2)
the eight members representing the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled
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community, teachers, and higher education in 2029.
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SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
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1, 2025.
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