SB 279 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act

SB 279, the "Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act," expands protections for service members and veterans by broadening definitions and regulations across Maryland law. It updates terms like "uniformed services" to cover all military personnel (not just the armed forces) and requires businesses, insurance providers, and labor laws to apply equally to all service members and veterans. Key changes include new provisions for veteran-owned small business loans, updated insurance regulations, and revised employment protections to prevent discrimination. The bill directly affects service members, veterans, and businesses operating under Maryland’s licensing and insurance rules.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Signed Apr 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act Third - Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act · 13 edits
MAJOR
The bill's procedural status changed from first reading to third reading with favorable committee amendments, and the bill's substantive scope was significantly reorganized. The bill now repeals and reenacts different sections of Maryland law compared to the previous version, shifting focus from adding new provisions to repealing and reenacting existing sections across multiple articles including Business Regulation, Commercial Law, Economic Development, Financial Institutions, General Provisions, Insurance, and Labor and Employment.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from primarily adding new provisions to repealing and reenacting existing sections of law, with the specific sections targeted for repeal and reenactment being reorganized and redistributed across different articles.
REQUIREMENT

The bill now repeals and reenacts Article Business Regulation Section 1-101(a), 2.5-105(b)(2), and 5-803(a)(1) instead of adding to these sections.

The bill now adds to Article Business Regulation Section 1-101(a-1), (j), and (k) instead of repealing and reenacting these sections.

The bill now repeals Article Business Regulation Section 5-803(a)(4) and 19-501 instead of repealing and reenacting Article Commercial Law sections.

The bill now repeals Article Commercial Law Section 14-1201(n) instead of repealing and reenacting Section 14-1201(o) and 14-1212.2(a)(2).

The bill now repeals Article Economic Development Section 5-1001, 5-1002, 5-1003(1), and 5-1006(a) instead of repealing and reenacting Article Commercial Law Section 14-1201(o) and 14-1212.2(a)(2).

The bill now repeals Article Financial Institutions Section 1-101(a) and 12-119(b)(1) instead of repealing and reenacting Article General Provisions Section 1-117.

The bill now adds to Article Financial Institutions Section 1-101(y) instead of repealing and reenacting Article Financial Institutions Section 11-612.2(a), (b), and (c) and 12-119(b)(2)(iv).

The bill now adds to Article General Provisions Section 1-101.1, 1-101.2, 1-103.1, 1-114.1, 1-114.2, and 1-116 instead of repealing and reenacting Article General Provisions Section 1-117.

The bill now repeals Article Insurance Section 1-101(a), 1-203.1(a)(1) and (3)(i) and (ii), and 10-101(a) instead of repealing and reenacting Article Insurance Section 1-101(a-1) and (rr-1).

The bill now adds to Article Insurance Section 1-101(a-1) and (rr-1) instead of repealing and reenacting Article Insurance Section 1-203.1(a)(3)(iii)1., 8-404(a)(6), 10-101(o), 10-111, 10-116.1(f)(1), 10-408.1(b), 18-109(b)(8)(iii), 20-502(c), and 27-501(o).

The bill now repeals Article Labor and Employment Section 1-101(a), 8-1001(a), 8.3-101(a), 8.3-403(c)(1), and 11-503(a) instead of repealing and reenacting Article Labor and Employment Section 1-101(a-1), (d-1), (d-2), and (f) and 8.3-101(a-1) and (g-1).

The bill now adds to Article Labor and Employment Section 1-101(a-1), (d-1), (d-2), and (f) and 8.3-101(a-1) and (g-1) instead of repealing and reenacting Article Labor and Employment Section 3-708, 3-714, 3-803(b), 8-906, 8-1001(c)(1)(iii), 8.3-101(g) and (m), 8.3-302(4) and (5), 8.3-403(c)(2)(ii) and (vi)1., 8.3-701(a)(1)(iv) and (v), 8.3-702(d), and 11-503(b)(6) and (7).

The bill now repeals Article Labor and Employment Section 8.3-101(p) instead of repealing and reenacting Article Labor and Employment Section 1-101(a-1), (d-1), (d-2), and (f) and 8.3-101(a-1) and (g-1).

Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2025

How they voted

460
Passed
Total votes 46
Feb 23, 2025
D Democratic33
33 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican13
13 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Apr 8, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 5
executive
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Economic Matters
lower
Mar 16, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-5)
house of delegates
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
Referred Economic Matters
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
upper
Feb 23, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-0)
senate
Jan 10, 2025
Committee
First Reading Finance and Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors