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Bill

HB 86

Institutions of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Schools - Title VI Coordinators

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Vogel

Maryland would require all schools and colleges to appoint Title VI Coordinators ensuring federal civil rights compliance and discrimination oversight.

Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. (Appropriations)
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Bill Summary · HB 86

Legislative bill overview

HB 86 requires Maryland's institutions of higher education and elementary/secondary schools to designate Title VI Coordinators responsible for implementing federal civil rights compliance requirements. The bill establishes mandatory coordinator positions to oversee adherence to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs.

Why is this important

Title VI compliance is a federal legal requirement, but enforcement mechanisms vary. Designating explicit coordinators creates accountability structures and centralizes responsibility for civil rights oversight in schools and colleges. This directly affects how institutions investigate discrimination complaints, conduct audits, and document compliance efforts—matters that impact students and staff experiencing or reporting discrimination.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Schools and universities may argue the unfunded mandate requires budget reallocation from instruction or other programs to create/staff new coordinator positions
  • Overlap with existing roles: Questions exist about whether this duplicates responsibilities already assigned to Title IX coordinators, diversity officers, or legal compliance staff
  • Specificity concerns: The bill may lack detail on coordinator qualifications, reporting lines, authority levels, and what happens when institutions fail to comply with the requirement

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

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