Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 31, 2026

SB 16: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits

SB 16 sets clear limits on how much an employer can withhold from a parent's wages for child support payments. It specifies that withholdings cannot exceed a certain percentage of disposable earnings, particularly for parents earning under 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. The bill requires employers to include these limits in withholding notices and allows parents to contest withholdings they believe exceed these limits. This affects low-income parents receiving child support orders and their employers, ensuring withholdings remain within legally defined boundaries.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill limits child support withholdings to protect low-income parents' disposable earnings, preventing excessive wage deductions that impact workers' take-home pay.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 509: Higher Education - Workforce Pell Grant Program - Implementation

This bill establishes Maryland's framework for implementing the federal Workforce Pell Grant Program. It requires the Governor, after consulting with workforce and education entities, to approve short-term education programs (150-600 hours, 8-15 weeks) that align with high-skill occupations and employer hiring needs. Approved programs must offer stackable credentials, provide academic credit transferability toward further education, and prepare students for in-demand careers. Institutions cannot disburse funds or advertise these programs to Maryland students without state approval, with biennial compliance reviews mandated for ongoing eligibility.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes framework for workforce-focused higher education programs with stackable credentials, expanding access to career-aligned education and aligning training with employer needs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes workforce training programs for high-skill careers with stackable credentials, enhancing employment opportunities and aligning education with employer needs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1087: Health Care Facilities - Surgical Smoke - Smoke Evacuation Systems

HB 1087 requires Maryland health care facilities performing surgeries that generate surgical smoke (like hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and freestanding medical facilities) to adopt policies mandating the use of smoke evacuation systems by January 1, 2028. These systems must capture and filter harmful surgical smoke particles at the source before they reach medical staff or patients. The bill defines "surgical smoke" as the gaseous byproducts from energy-generating surgical tools, including bio-aerosols and lung-damaging particles. This policy change aims to protect health care workers and patients from exposure to potentially hazardous smoke during procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates smoke evacuation systems in surgical facilities to protect staff/patients from harmful surgical smoke, directly advancing healthcare safety standards.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates smoke evacuation systems to protect medical staff from hazardous surgical smoke, directly improving workplace safety for healthcare workers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 828: State Board of Education - Membership - Employee of a County Board of Education

HB 828 adds a new "Educational Support Member" position to Maryland's State Board of Education, directly affecting noncertificated, non-supervisory school support staff (like paraprofessionals or clerical workers in bargaining units). The bill requires the Governor to appoint this member based on an election conducted by eligible educational support professionals across the state, following regulations set by the Department of Education. The new member can attend and participate in board meetings but cannot vote on appeals to the State Board under specific sections of law. This change modifies existing board membership rules to include representation from this specific school support workforce category.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds representation for support staff on education board, strengthening their voice in policy decisions affecting schools.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates elected position for school support staff on education board, enabling direct representation in policy decisions affecting their workplace85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 242: Modernizing Civil Relief for Service Members Act

SB 242, the Modernizing Civil Relief for Service Members Act, allows active-duty service members and their spouses to practice in Maryland under an occupational or professional license issued by another state, without needing to meet all of Maryland’s usual licensing requirements. It also expands eligibility for veterans’ licensing benefits to include former service members who were discharged more than a certain period before applying for a license. The bill creates new provisions (Subtitle 14A) in Maryland law to streamline this process and updates definitions to clarify who qualifies under these rules. These changes directly affect military personnel, their families, and veterans seeking to work in licensed professions across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFacilitates employment access for service members/veterans by easing occupational licensing barriers, aligning with employment standards support.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands veterans' licensing benefits to include former service members discharged beyond a certain period, directly advancing veteran employment opportunities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 101: Higher Education - Loan Repayment and Scholarships for Correctional Officers

SB 101 adds correctional officers to Maryland's existing loan repayment and scholarship programs for public safety workers. It expands the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program (Subtitle 37) to allow correctional officers who work in state facilities for at least two years to get help repaying higher education loans. It also creates a new scholarship program (Subtitle 38) for students or current correctional officers pursuing relevant degrees, requiring a five-year service commitment after graduation. The bill directly affects correctional officers statewide by providing financial support for education and career advancement. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands loan repayment/scholarships for correctional officers, directly supporting workforce development in corrections, a core criminal justice component.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates scholarship program and expands loan repayment for correctional officers pursuing higher education, directly funding educational access and supporting students through financial aid.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands loan repayment/scholarships for correctional officers, providing direct financial support tied to employment in public safety, advancing worker benefits and retention.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 512: Anne Arundel County - Board of License Commissioners and Part-Time Inspectors - Compensation

HB 512 increases minimum annual salaries for Anne Arundel County's Board of License Commissioners and part-time inspectors, effective July 1, 2026. The bill sets a new minimum $21,240 annual salary for the board chair (up from $18,000), $17,700 for other board members (up from $15,000), and $8,260 for each of the 18 part-time inspectors (up from $7,000). All salaries must include any cost-of-living adjustments available to Anne Arundel County employees. Additionally, part-time inspectors receive a $300 monthly expense allowance subject to approval. The bill directly affects these specific county positions handling alcohol beverage licensing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases county government spending on employee compensation, directly funding public service roles through mandated salary hikes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases minimum salaries for county board members and inspectors, directly advancing wage standards for public employees per Labor & Employment indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 1185: Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission - Personnel Management - Appeals of Disciplinary Suspensions PG/MC 104-26

HB 1185 requires the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSUSC) to follow specific steps before disciplining employees, including investigating misconduct, meeting with the employee, and considering mitigating circumstances. It sets a 30-day deadline for disciplinary actions after the Commission learns of misconduct, but allows suspensions without pay within 5 workdays (excluding weekends/holidays). Employees suspended can appeal to the Office of Administrative Hearings, which must resolve the case promptly. The bill directly affects WSUSC employees and ensures procedural fairness in disciplinary proceedings.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires due process before disciplinary actions, protecting employees from arbitrary punishment through investigations, meetings, and appeal rights.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 864: Public Works Contracts - Apprenticeship Requirements (Maryland Workforce Apprenticeship Utilization Act)

HB 864 (Maryland Workforce Apprenticeship Utilization Act) requires contractors and subcontractors on Maryland public works projects to employ a minimum percentage of qualified apprentices or journeyworkers instead of paying fees to apprenticeship programs. The bill expands this requirement to cover construction projects for the University System of Maryland and Baltimore City Community College. It repeals current provisions allowing contractors to pay fees in lieu of hiring apprentices and directs the Secretary of Labor to set an annual apprenticeship hiring percentage for each project. This policy change directly affects contractors bidding on public construction projects valued above specific thresholds, aiming to increase on-the-job training opportunities in skilled trades.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requires apprenticeships for construction at higher education institutions (University System of Maryland, community college), expanding educational access via on-the-job training and repealing fee payments.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates direct hiring of apprentices instead of fees, expanding workforce opportunities and strengthening apprenticeship programs by repealing fee-in-lieu provisions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 818: State Center - Development - Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory Group

SB 818 amends Maryland law to establish new requirements for developing the 28-acre State Center property in Baltimore City. It requires all new or modified development contracts to include an enforceable community benefits agreement with the State Center Neighborhood Alliance, a local hiring plan with job goals, and an economic improvement plan prioritizing minority- and women-owned businesses. The bill also creates a State Center Advisory Group composed of neighborhood associations, anchor institutions, and community organizations within a 1-mile radius to provide community input, leverage neighborhood benefits, and ensure transparency. This directly affects the developer of the State Center project and surrounding Baltimore neighborhoods.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates community benefits agreements, local hiring plans, and minority/women-owned business prioritization in housing development contracts, advancing equitable housing policies.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates local hiring plan with job goals and prioritizes minority/women-owned businesses, directly advancing employment standards and equitable workforce opportunities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment