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Bill

SB 507

Public Schools - Individuals With Disabilities - Accessibility and Emergency Planning

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dalya Attar and 6 co-sponsors

Maryland schools must improve physical accessibility and create disability-inclusive emergency evacuation plans for safer student and staff outcomes.

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Bill Summary · SB 507

Legislative bill overview

SB 507 requires Maryland public schools to enhance accessibility standards and emergency preparedness planning specifically for students and staff with disabilities. The bill mandates schools develop comprehensive emergency procedures that account for various disability accommodations and ensure physical accessibility improvements align with federal standards.

Why is this important

Students with disabilities face disproportionate risks during emergencies due to inaccessible evacuation routes, communication barriers, and inadequate planning. Strengthened accessibility and emergency protocols directly affect safety outcomes and educational equity for approximately 15% of Maryland's student population with disabilities.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Schools may argue compliance requires significant capital improvements and staff training expenses, particularly for smaller districts with limited budgets
  • Specific mandate scope: Ambiguity over which accessibility standards apply and how detailed emergency plans must be could create compliance challenges and disputes over adequacy
  • Resource allocation: Requirements may compete with other school priorities; debate likely over whether state should provide dedicated funding or place burden on local districts

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

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