Bill
HB 1369
Maryland HB 1369 sets a $25/hour minimum for education support professionals in public schools, with annual CPI increases; costs shift to local school budgets.
Note: the materials you provided include several different bills all numbered “HB 1369” from different states (Maryland, North Dakota, Arkansas, Illinois, Hawaii). Those are distinct measures. Below I summarize the Maryland HB 1369 (Education — Minimum Wage for Education Support Professionals) because your packet includes the bill text and a detailed fiscal note for that measure. If you meant a different HB 1369 (oil & gas or another state), tell me which jurisdiction and I will prepare a focused summary.
HB 1369 (Maryland) — Education — Minimum Wage for Education Support Professionals
Status: Approved by Governor (05/03/2025). Effective date: Act takes effect June 1, 2025; wage schedule begins July 1, 2025 (per bill text).
Purpose / Intent
- Establish a statutory minimum hourly wage for “education support professionals” employed by county boards of education and require annual inflation adjustments so those workers’ pay keeps pace with cost‑of‑living.
Key provisions
- New Section 6–306 (Education Article):
- Defines “education support professional” as a noncertificated public school employee designated as part of a nonsupervisory bargaining unit.
- Requires each county board to pay education support professionals at least $25.00 per hour beginning July 1, 2025.
- On each July 1 beginning 2026, the wage is increased by the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI‑U) (or successor index) compared to the prior period; if CPI shows no growth or declines, the minimum wage remains unchanged for that year (methodology spelled out).
- State Board of Education authorized to adopt regulations to implement the law.
- The bill expressly overrides the general State minimum wage provision (Labor & Employment §3–413) for these employees.
Who is affected
- Directly affected: Education support professionals in Maryland public schools who are part of nonsupervisory bargaining units (examples include teacher aides, library aides and other noncertificated aides — exact affected job categories depend on local designations).
- Indirectly affected: County boards of education and local school system budgets (local governments bear the cost).
- No effect on State operating budget for regulatory implementation; the measure imposes a local government mandate.
Fiscal impact (from Department of Legislative Services fiscal note)
- State: No fiscal effect (SBE can implement with existing resources).
- Local: Significant increased expenditures beginning FY2026 (first full fiscal year after July 1, 2025). DLS estimates are uncertain but likely "at least tens of millions of dollars" statewide:
- Illustrative sample (assumptions): if ~17,000 affected employees currently at $15/hr receive +$10/hr and work ~1,170 hrs/year, annual wage cost increase ≈ $198.9 million in FY2026. Costs would grow in future years per inflation adjustments.
- MSDE indicates almost 45,000 employees in relevant categories, and roughly 16,500 may earn under $25/hr.
- Local estimates received vary (examples): Montgomery County ~$24.0M first year; St. Mary’s County ~$23.2M; Baltimore City ~$1.8M; Wicomico County ~$3.5M.
- No additional local revenue impact; overall fiscal burden falls on county school budgets (mandate).
Procedural / timeline notes
- Introduced: November 18, 2024.
- First reader / fiscal note dated Feb 27, 2025.
- Effective: Act takes effect June 1, 2025; statutory minimum wage starts July 1, 2025 with annual CPI adjustments each July thereafter.
- SBE may issue regulations to carry out the law.
Questions / next steps
- Do you want a similar summary of one of the other HB 1369 versions in your packet (North Dakota education funding; Arkansas campaign finance; Illinois caregiver tax credit; Hawaii tax/energy bills), or a side‑by‑side comparison of any two?
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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