Maryland Senate Introduces Bill To Require Cameras In Some Special Education Classrooms

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland lawmakers are set to have a hearing on Senate Bill 0051, or Public Schools – Self-Contained Special Education Classrooms – Use of Video Recording Devices. The bill would require certain special education classrooms to install cameras in the classrooms.

SB0051 was first introduced in 2021 but has recently been revived and was referred to committee. The summary reads: “Requiring each county board of education, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, to install and provide notice of the use of certain video recording devices in self-contained special education classrooms, subject to certain requirements; prohibiting a county board from storing a certain video recording for more than six months after the recording date unless a request to view or store the video has been made; establishing certain reporting requirements in the event of an interruption of a certain video recording; etc.”

Local school districts and governments would shoulder the financial responsibility for installing the cameras.

This bill is of particular interest to local parents in Southern Maryland who have battled with school officials to find accountability for injuries their children sustained at school. The BayNet previously reported on specific allegations at Benjamin Banneker Elementary School in St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS). Neither the Board of Education nor Wendy Zimmerman, principal of Banneker Elementary, immediately responded to The BayNet’s request for comment on this bill.

Proponents of the bill believe that they’ll provide an important investigative tool and will be helpful to students and staff — but concerns remain about enforcement in individual school districts.

The hearing for the bill will be held at 2 p.m. on Feb. 4. Supporters can track the bill’s progress online.

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