2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
The 448th session of the Maryland General Assembly will convene in Annapolis from January 14 - April 13, 2026 with hundreds of bills being introduced during this time. During this Special Update we review the legislature's role in arts education, what we're working on, and how to get involved.
Funding through the Concentration of Poverty Grant program is currently available to support a well-rounded education, which includes the arts as well as other subjects including social studies and physical education. This provision is set to expire after next school year (2026-2027). We want to eliminate this sunset to ensure that arts education is protected in perpetuity as a critical component of the world-class education every student deserves.
THE PROBLEM
WHAT'S NEXT
Delegate Wims (Montgomery County) and Senator McCray (Baltimore City) have introduced a bill to ensure these funds can be used to support the arts in perpetuity. HB352 is originating in the Ways and Means Committee, and cross-filed SB289 is originating in the Budget & Taxation and Education, Energy, and the Environment Committees.
Keep an eye out on our live tracker as the bills go through the process to hopefully become law!
The Blueprint’s Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) voted to include this as one of their legislative priorities.
CURRENT UPDATES
COALITION PRIORITIES
AEMS, along with its collaborators and coalition partners, is focused on these critical priorities for broader educational initiatives in Maryland that impact arts education.
GET INVOLVED
We expect the bill to move quickly so early support is key!
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Email your representatives as soon as possible.
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Find your representative
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Use the Email Template
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The template will be updated once we know the bill number
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Check our live tracker for specific timing to submit testimony​
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PREPARING FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION
On November 19, 2025, AEMS presented an info session discussing AEMS' legislative priorities for the 2026 General Assembly Session of the Maryland Legislature.
During this Special Update we review the legislature's role in arts education, what we're working on, and how to get involved.
The Arts Advocacy 101 tutorials are dedicated to empowering students, families, educators, and the community to effectively advocate for arts programming in Maryland schools.
Address
190 W. Ostend St.
Baltimore, MD
21230
