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SB 1016

An Act amending the act of June 13, 2008 (P.L.182, No.27), known as the Clean Indoor Air Act, further providing for title of act, for definitions, for prohibition, for signage, for enforcement, for preemption of local ordinances and for repeal; and making editorial changes.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Amanda Cappelletti and 4 co-sponsors

SB 1016 requires yearly state funding to UMES starting at $5,000,000 (min floor) until a $321,181,312 total is reached, to address historic funding disparities.

Referred to Health & Human Services
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Bill Summary · SB 1016

Summary — SB 1016 (Land‑Grant Equity and Accountability Act)

Status: First Reading — Senate Rules
Introduced: January 30, 2025
Primary sponsor: Senator Ellis
Effective date (if enacted): July 1, 2025

Purpose

SB 1016 requires recurring state appropriations to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) to address a documented historical funding disparity between UMES (the State’s 1890 land‑grant institution) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP, the State’s 1862 land‑grant institution). The disparity is based on a joint letter from the U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture (Sept. 18, 2023). The bill intends to remedy the shortfall “as soon as practicable.”

Key provisions

  • Governor must include in the annual budget bill, beginning for fiscal year (FY) 2027 and each FY thereafter, an appropriation to UMES of at least $5,000,000.
  • For any FY, the appropriation to UMES may not be less than the amount appropriated in the immediately preceding FY (a year‑to‑year floor).
  • Appropriations continue annually until a cumulative total of $321,181,312 has been appropriated to UMES.
  • Funds required under the bill are supplemental to — and may not supplant — other State budget appropriations to UMES.
  • Allowable uses: development of infrastructure and academic programs; investment in faculty; scholarships; and other institutional needs identified by UMES.
  • Findings in the bill state that if UMES had received the same level of State funding per student as UMCP from 1987–2020, UMES would have received an additional $321,181,312.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Minimum direct State general fund cost: $5.0 million in FY 2027 (and at least $5.0 million annually thereafter until the cumulative target is met).
  • Department of Legislative Services notes that if funding is provided only at the $5.0 million minimum each year, it would take decades (the fiscal note estimates about 65 years) to reach the $321.18 million total.
  • Larger one‑time or front‑loaded appropriations would increase near‑term general fund costs substantially.
  • The bill can affect higher education funding formulas: once additional funds feed into formula calculations (projected in the fiscal note for FY 2029), community college formula allocations could increase (the fiscal note estimates roughly $1.2 million total to local community colleges in FY 2029 under one scenario).
  • Funds increase UMES revenues/expenditures; no direct small business effect identified.

Who is affected

  • Direct: University of Maryland Eastern Shore (primary beneficiary).
  • Indirect: State budget/general fund (increased mandated appropriations); other public higher education formula distributions (community colleges, and potentially parts of Sellinger/BCCC formulas) due to statutory ties to four‑year per‑student funding.
  • Also references UMCP only as the comparator for historical funding disparity.

Procedural notes

  • Bill adds §15‑140 to the Education Article of the Maryland Annotated Code.
  • Legislative intent language and the September 18, 2023 federal letter are incorporated as findings supporting the appropriation requirement.
  • The bill was introduced and read in the Senate (first reading) and referred to relevant committees (status: First Reading — Senate Rules as of the document).

Considerations

  • The mandate creates a new recurring, statutory appropriation floor and thus increases the State’s mandated obligations.
  • Law prevents supplanting existing UMES budget amounts but does not require a specific annual pacing beyond the $5 million minimum and the non‑decreasing year‑to‑year floor; pacing affects how quickly the $321.18 million total is reached.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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