ANNAPOLIS, Md. — House Bill 1, which aims to grant state funding to historically black colleges and universities(HBCUs) in Maryland was reintroduced to the Maryland General Assembly last week. Sponsored by Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones, who recently unveiled a new “black agenda” for the state, the bill aims to provide aid to black communities through various state initiatives. One part of her plan was to invest state funds into the higher education programs to assist black students.
This bill would provide $577 million in funding for the four HBCU’s in the state. The institutions that would receive funding include Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
These institutions would start receiving the funding at the beginning of FY2023, and it would be extended through 2032.
There are five main areas for which the funding is intended to support: establishing new programs and funding under appreciated programs, providing scholarships and financial aid, recruiting and trading faculty, creating additional academic support for students, and marketing to attract new students.
Funding for HBCU’s is not a new topic in Maryland politics. It has been the subject of a more than decade long lawsuit where the state failed to provide adequate support to these universities, thus furthering racial disparities in education. HB1 is meant to address and resolve problems found throughout the lawsuit, with new adjustments based upon the financial impacts of COVID-19.
“The HBCU case has been an on-going issue and underscored the marked inequity that exists in our higher education system,” Jones told TheBayNet.com. “I reintroduced the HBCU bill this session to resolve this issue once and for all. I am committed to taking the necessary action to eliminate the vestiges of program duplication and level the playing field for all students. Once again, the General Assembly must demonstrate our ability to work together to solve our toughest issues for the betterment of every resident. I look forward to the Governor’s full support as we work toward the final resolution of this 13-year case.”
This piece of legislation was originally introduced last year but was ultimately vetoed by Governor Larry Hogan[R]. Now, it has been reintroduced in the 2021 session with some adjustments, while maintaining the core goals. Speaker Jones introduced it on Tuesday to the House Appropriations Committee, and two days later Senator Charles Sydnor III[D-Baltimore] introduced it to the Senate’s Taxation and Budget Committee.
“The funding is intended to supplement and not supplant existing USM and HBCU funding,” Jones said at the committee meeting. She then went on to say that the government must intervene to end years of litigation that has surrounded the issue.
“We have now been litigating and mediating for years, at the same time we have lost time for tens of thousands of students waiting for the legal process to resolve itself,” Jones continued.
“We need to act now to level the playing field for all students.”
Contact Tyler at tylerchesser@thebaynet.com
