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HB 73

Public Schools - Water Safety and Swimming Course - Established

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Karen Toles

Maryland bill mandates public schools teach water safety and swimming to reduce drowning risk and ensure equitable aquatic literacy across all students.

Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 73

Legislative bill overview

HB 73 establishes water safety and swimming course requirements for Maryland public school students. The bill mandates that public schools provide instruction in water safety and swimming competency as part of their educational curriculum. This represents a statewide standardization of aquatic education across Maryland's school system.

Why is this important

Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death among children, and swimming proficiency significantly reduces this risk. Standardizing water safety education across all public schools could reduce disparities in aquatic literacy, as access to swimming instruction often depends on family income and geography. This addresses a public health gap where many students graduate without basic water survival skills.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Schools must fund instructor training, pool access/maintenance, or partnerships with community facilities, creating budget pressures in districts already facing financial constraints
  • Resource inequality: Not all schools have pools or easy access to aquatic facilities, potentially creating compliance challenges and unequal program quality across wealthy and under-resourced districts
  • Curriculum crowding: Adding mandatory swimming instruction requires schools to allocate instructional time, potentially competing with other educational priorities or existing physical education requirements

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

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