Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateMarylandTo Governor
SB 285: Higher Education - Scholarships for Correctional Officers
Mary Beth Carozza
SB 285 status: To Governor — Approved by the Governor - Chapter 681 (updated May 26, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
70OUT OF 100
Score:70/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 40/100
Constitutionality100%
Bipartisan70%
Public opinion80%
Bill summary
What changes
The state of Maryland has established a scholarship program specifically for correctional officers to fund higher education.
Who is affected
Correctional officers employed within the state prison system.
Requirements and enforcement
Not stated in the available source.
Costs and funding
Requires state legislative funding for the scholarship program; specific budget amounts are not provided.
When it takes effect
The bill has been approved by the Governor as of May 2026.
Potential benefits
Supports professional development, improves employee retention, and increases access to education for public servants.
Risks and tradeoffs
Funding adequacy and the potential for limited eligibility to exclude certain subsets of the workforce.
What is still unknown
The specific criteria for scholarship eligibility and the total number of individuals expected to benefit.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Positive outlook
70%
Benefits
- Incentivizes workforce recruitment
- Supports employee retention
- Increases professional skill levels
Risks
- Increases state budget expenditures
- Requires administrative funding
- Potential opportunity cost for other programs
Society
Positive outlook
75%
Benefits
- Expands higher education access
- Promotes social mobility for workers
- Facilitates career advancement
Risks
- Limits benefits to specific workforce
- Competitive application process uncertainty
- Potential for uneven distribution of aid
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
65%
Benefits
- Potentially improves staff competency
- Strengthens correctional facility stability
- Reduces turnover-related safety risks
Risks
- Indirect link to safety improvements
- Staffing levels remain primary risk
- Funding may not reach all facilities
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
The scope of impact is limited to one workforce sector and may not address broader systemic issues in correctional facilities.
Analysis scope
Source provided is a summary and may lack specific eligibility requirements.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorCurrent
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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