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SB 583

directing the department of education to create an education funding transparency data and reporting system.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Avard and 14 co-sponsors

SB 583 lets Maryland senatorial/delegate scholarships cover PAREA real property appraiser training, expanding access and exempting some exam requirements for applicants.

Pending Motion OT3rdg; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
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Bill Summary · SB 583

SB 583 — Legislative Scholarship Programs: Eligibility & Use — Real Estate Appraisal Program

Status: Introduced (Maryland); assigned to Education, Energy, and the Environment. Effective date (if enacted): July 1, 2025. Companion: HB 609.

Main purpose

SB 583 expands who may receive legislative (senatorial and delegate) scholarship awards and how those awards may be used by adding the Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) program — and specifically applicants planning to complete the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria via PAREA — to qualifying programs. The bill aims to allow legislative scholarship funds to support training pathways for real estate appraiser qualification.

Key provisions

  • Adds the PAREA program (as adopted by the Appraisal Foundation Appraiser Qualifications Board under FIRREA) to statutory definitions of eligible programs for both senatorial and delegate scholarships.
  • Exempts applicants who are registered for, or plan to complete, the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria of PAREA from certain competitive examination requirements that otherwise apply to senatorial scholarship applicants.
  • Explicitly authorizes use of senatorial and delegate scholarship funds to cover expenses to register for and complete the PAREA program (in addition to existing authorized educational expenses such as tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board where applicable).
  • Amends multiple sections of the Education Article (listed in the bill) to add these eligibility and use provisions.

Who is affected

  • Prospective and current applicants for Maryland senatorial and delegate scholarships who plan to pursue real property appraiser qualification via PAREA.
  • The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), which administers scholarship programs and must implement the new eligibility and payment rules.
  • Potentially the pipeline of real estate appraisers in Maryland by increasing access to funded training.

Fiscal and implementation impact

  • The fiscal note (Department of Legislative Services) estimates no change in overall scholarship spending or state revenues.
  • MHEC general fund costs: a one-time increase of $10,000 in FY 2026 to update the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) to handle the new program eligibility/use data.
  • Local government and small business impacts: none or minimal.

Timeline / Procedural notes

  • The bill text repeals and reenacts specified Education Article sections to add the new language.
  • Effective date specified in the fiscal note: July 1, 2025 (if enacted).
  • Companion bill HB 609 tracks the same subject.

Context

PAREA is a supervised practical training alternative used to meet appraisal licensing experience requirements under standards adopted by the Appraisal Foundation. By allowing legislative scholarships to be used for PAREA-related costs and by exempting certain applicants from an exam requirement, the bill broadens access to a licensure track for individuals pursuing careers as real property appraisers.

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

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