Bill
SB 789
The bill designates certain private campus sites as hunger‑free but bars private institutions from receiving Hunger‑Free Grant funds, expanding designation while boosting funding t
Status: Approved by the Governor (Chapter 322) — Effective July 1, 2025
Primary sponsor: Sen. M. Washington
Summary
This Act amends Maryland’s Hunger‑Free Campus Grant Program (existing law) to (1) allow the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to designate certain private institutions’ campuses as “hunger‑free campuses,” while (2) explicitly prohibiting those private institutions (and RHECs operated by private nonprofit institutions) from receiving Program grant funding. The Act also increases the ongoing State appropriation for the Program beginning in FY 2027 and clarifies MHEC responsibilities for grants, planning, regulation, and reporting.
Purpose / Intent
- Recognize and incentivize campus efforts to address student food insecurity across a broader set of institutions by extending the designation to certain private campuses.
- Preserve limited grant dollars for public institutions and public regional higher education centers by excluding private institutions from grant eligibility.
- Strengthen Program funding and integrate basic needs strategies into the State higher education plan.
Key provisions and changes
- Designation expansion: MHEC must designate as a “hunger‑free campus” any campus (public or private where applicable) that meets the statutory program requirements set out in §11‑1703 (task force, SNAP assistance staff, awareness activities, food pantry or stigma‑free arrangements, meal‑sharing program where applicable, annual survey and report, etc.).
- Grant eligibility: Notwithstanding designation, a 4‑year or 2‑year private institution of higher education — and any RHEC operated by a private nonprofit institution — is not eligible to receive Hunger‑Free Campus Grant Program funds (§11‑1705).
- State appropriation:
- Continues the earlier requirement that the Governor include $150,000 in the annual budget for FY 2023–2026.
- Requires the Governor to include $250,000 annually in the budget starting in FY 2027 and thereafter (§11‑1704).
- MHEC duties:
- Administer the Program, determine grant amounts, adopt implementing regulations, and allow flexible grant uses (emergency assistance, staff, operational activities).
- Incorporate a plan to address basic needs insecurity into the 2026–2030 State Plan for Higher Education (§11‑1705(c)).
- Reporting: MHEC must report to the Governor and General Assembly (within two years after establishing the Program) on program implementation, including grants awarded, Program impact on establishing hunger‑free campuses, effects on student food insecurity, and recommendations for expansion (§11‑1706).
- Effective date: July 1, 2025.
Who is affected
- Public 2‑ and 4‑year institutions and public RHECs: remain eligible for designation and grant funding if they meet requirements; may receive increased Program appropriations beginning FY 2027.
- Private institutions and private‑operated RHECs: may receive official “hunger‑free campus” designation but are explicitly ineligible to receive Program grants.
- Maryland Higher Education Commission: additional administrative duties (designation of private campuses, planning, reporting), to be managed within existing resources.
- State budget: requires a continuing appropriation of $250,000 annually beginning FY 2027 (previously $150,000 for FY 2023–2026).
Fiscal impact (per fiscal note)
- MHEC can implement the designation expansion using existing resources.
- Grant funding levels and State revenues are not materially changed in the short term; the statutory budget requirement increases to $250,000 annually starting FY 2027. No direct local or small business fiscal effects identified.
Effective date
- This Act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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