Proposed law for green cleaning in Maryland schools

ANNAPOLIS, MD — HB 1363, a bill that would require Maryland K-12 public schools to implement green cleaning programs, has successfully passed the House and Senate, according to a press release.


The bill now only needs Governor Martin O’Malley's signature to make the purchase of green cleaning products for use in K-12 public schools throughout the state a law, the release stated.

According to the release, the County Boards of Education must allow for "multiple avenues" in qualifying cleaning products as environmentally preferable including, at the very least, products recognized by: The U.S. EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) program; EcoLogo's Environmental Choice; and Green Seal.

The proposed legislation allows schools to first use existing cleaning products and supplies before they transition to green cleaning products and allows them to opt out of implementing a green cleaning program if it is not economically feasible, the release noted.

If HB 1363 is signed into law, it will become the fifth state to enact a green cleaning for schools law and the 17th state in the union to implement a green cleaning policy of one nature or another, the release added.