Labor and Employment - Unpaid Parental Leave - Definition of Employer

SB 785 amends Maryland's unpaid parental leave law by revising the definition of "employer" to exclude businesses covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for the current year. This change directly affects Maryland employers with 15-49 employees who are already subject to federal FMLA requirements. Under the bill, these employers would no longer be required to provide state-mandated unpaid parental leave benefits, as federal rules would take precedence. The law would take effect October 1, 2025.