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SB 916

SS/SCS/SB 916 - This act modifies provisions relating to sovereign immunity. SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY FOR MODOT PRIVATE CONTRACTORS (SECTION 537.600) Currently, public entities are immune from liability for compensatory damages resulting from negligence, except as expressly waived in law. This act modifies the express waivers to include injuries directly resulting from negligence caused by an agent of the Missouri Department of Transportation ("Department") arising out of the operation of motor vehicles within the course of their employment and for injuries caused by the condition of the public entity's property if the negligence of an agent of the Department created the dangerous condition or had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition in order to take measures to protect against the dangerous condition. Furthermore, this act creates a statutory cause of action for damages against an agent of the Department for claims arising from the design, condition, or maintenance of a Department project and abrogates any other common law claims against a private contractor, subcontractor, or engineer, or employee thereof, for such claims. The cause of action is established when the damages occur after execution of a contract to perform work but prior to the commencement of construction activities on the project site and for when construction activities on the project site are approved and accepted by the Department. The Department shall be solely liable for personal injury or death arising out of instances during such periods of time. The immunity provided by this statutory cause of action shall not apply when: (1) The work is so defective that it creates an imminent danger to third parties; (2) A defect in the work was concealed and not discoverable by a reasonable inspection by the State Highways and Transportation Commission ("Commission"); (3) The agent knew of the dangerous condition and did not disclose it to the Commission; or (4) The plans or specifications followed were so imperfect or improper that the agent should have known the work to be done would result in an unsafe condition. Furthermore, the Missouri Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, or its successor, as published by the Commission shall not include provisions requiring a contractor to indemnify or defend the state, the Commission, or employees or agents of the Missouri Department of Transportation. No contractor of the Commission shall be required to agree to an indemnification or a duty to defend provision. PURCHASE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY CLAIMS (SECTION 537.610.1) As it relates to political subdivisions purchasing liability insurance for tort claims made against the political subdivision, this act defines the term "purchase" to refer only to the direct acquisition of insurance coverage by a governing body and not any indirect action by contract or otherwise. This provision is substantially similar to a provision in HCS/HB 1718 (2026), SB 454 (2025), HB 142 (2025), SB 1346 (2024), and HB 2690 (2022). KATIE O'BRIEN

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jamie Burger

Requires standardizing curricula to include antihate education, with state standards and resources, and funding penalties for noncompliant districts.

Reported Duly Enrolled Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 916

SB 916 — Education – Curriculum Standards – Requirements (Educate to Stop the Hate Act)

Status: Introduced Jan 24, 2025. Effective date: July 1, 2025. Hearing noted for 3/05 at 1:00 p.m.

Purpose / Intent

SB 916 (the “Educate to Stop the Hate Act”) directs the State Department of Education (MSDE) and the State Board of Education to strengthen and standardize Maryland’s curriculum standards—with a specific requirement to add antihate education—so students learn the historical context, root causes, and contemporary manifestations of prejudice, racism, and hate. The stated policy rationale is to reduce hate and intolerance by improving K–12 instruction on these subjects.

Key provisions

  • Definitions: creates/clarifies terms for “content standards,” “curriculum standards,” and “curriculum resources.”
  • MSDE duties:
    • Develop content standards, curriculum standards, and curriculum resources for each subject/grade that build sequentially and reflect evidence‑based practices and the science of instruction.
    • By January 1, 2026, review, revise, and adopt social studies content standards to include interdisciplinary antihate education grounded in historical context.
    • Establish an ongoing stakeholder engagement process and review all standards/resources at least every 8 years.
  • Curriculum resource requirements: resources must include course syllabi, sample lessons, model student work with explanations, and curriculum units organized into complete courses (so a student following them can meet college/career readiness by end of grade 10).
  • Local boards: amends county board duties to require establishment of curriculum guides and courses of study aligned with MSDE’s content/curriculum standards and curriculum resources.
  • Enforcement/Accountability: authorizes the State Superintendent to withhold State funds from a county board that fails to adopt aligned curricula (per referenced statutes).
  • Nonpublic schools: encourages (and expects for certificate‑holding nonpublic schools) inclusion of at least a unit on the described topics beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
  • Emphasis: standards and resources must consider impacts on all students, with strategic focus on marginalized student groups and on root causes of marginalization.

Who is affected

  • State: MSDE and the State Board of Education (development, adoption, assessment).
  • Local: County boards of education, superintendents, local curriculum developers, and teachers (must develop or adopt aligned guides and curricula).
  • Students: all public school students; certain nonpublic schools are encouraged/expected to adopt similar units.
  • Fiscal/administrative: local school systems (curriculum development, materials, teacher training); potential state funding consequences for noncompliance.

Timeline & implementation

  • Effective July 1, 2025.
  • MSDE deadline to adopt revised social studies standards including antihate education: January 1, 2026.
  • Intended implementation/alignment in local curricula beginning school year 2026–2027.
  • MSDE required to review standards at minimum every 8 years; stakeholder engagement to be maintained during development and review.

Fiscal impact (summary)

  • State: MSDE reports much of the work has been underway and can meet the January 2026 deadline using existing resources; no direct revenue impact identified.
  • Local: likely increased expenditures (potentially meaningful in FY2026–2027) for local curriculum development, course redesign, instructional materials, and teacher professional development. Longer‑term costs may be smaller once new curricula are in place.
  • Enforcement: potential withholding of State funds from noncompliant county boards could affect local revenues.

Practical effect

The bill centralizes and standardizes curricular expectations around antihate education and related content standards, creates a clear near‑term deadline for social studies revisions, and ties local compliance to state funding authority—creating a statutory pathway to ensure statewide alignment of curriculum and instructional resources.

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

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