SB 652 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Local Government – Local Personnel – Leave With Pay

SB 652 establishes paid disaster service leave for county and municipal employees in Maryland under specific conditions. Employees certified by the American Red Cross during Level II+ disasters or serving in designated volunteer groups (like Civil Air Patrol, fire/rescue departments, or emergency medical services) may qualify. The bill limits this leave to 15 days per year with prior approval, but allows governments to waive requirements or increase days during prolonged disasters if it benefits citizens. It also codifies existing paid leave types for jury duty, military service, and other circumstances under Section 1-208. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Last action Mar 26, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Local Government – Local Personnel – Leave With Pay → Third - Local Government – Local Personnel – Leave With Pay · 4 edits

MODERATE

SB 652 was amended to streamline disaster service leave provisions and expand paid leave options for local government employees. The changes clarify eligibility criteria, adjust waiver procedures during prolonged disasters, and add new categories of paid leave including administrative leave for safety threats and extraordinary circumstances.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include additional paid leave categories beyond disaster service leave, including jury service, employee organization events, uniformed services training, subpoena appearances, and administrative leave for safety or incapacity reasons.

REQUIREMENT

Waiver requirements for disaster service leave were modified to allow government units to waive approval requirements under subsections (B), (C), and (D) during prolonged or recurrent disasters, expanding previous authority.

Disaster service leave provisions were reorganized with clearer subsection numbering and expanded the list of organizations eligible for disaster service leave with pay.

ELIGIBILITY

New paid leave categories were added including administrative leave for employees posing safety threats or unable to perform duties due to extraordinary circumstances.

TIMELINE

Added signature lines for Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Delegates, indicating the bill has been approved for signature.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2025

How they voted

46–0

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

Key actions

Committee

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Referred Appropriations

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 29, 2025

Committee

First Reading Finance

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors