Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 1165: State Procurement - Apprenticeship Program Accountability and Completion

HB 1165 requires contractors working on certain state procurement contracts (called "covered procurements") to use apprenticeship programs with a minimum 25% completion rate, as determined by the Maryland Department of Labor. This applies to state contracts meeting specific criteria established by the Chief Procurement Officer. Contractors must provide written verification of program compliance before receiving a contract. The bill aims to ensure apprenticeship programs meet quality standards for state-funded projects.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires 25% apprenticeship completion rate to ensure quality training programs, advancing workforce development standards.90% 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

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 503: Baltimore City Sheriff's Office - Collective Bargaining - Compensation

HB 503 allows full-time sworn deputy sheriffs (at lieutenant rank or below) and court security officers in Baltimore City to collectively bargain over compensation - including salary, wages, and city-managed benefits - as well as leave, hours, working conditions, and job security. It requires these officers to negotiate jointly with both the Sheriff and Baltimore City (not just one entity) for these matters, removing previous restrictions that excluded salary from bargaining. The bill excludes captains, appointed staff, civilian employees, part-timers, and temporary workers from these collective bargaining rights. This changes existing law to expand bargaining scope for eligible officers while specifying the joint negotiation process.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes exclusion of salary from collective bargaining for officers, expanding their right to negotiate compensation and working conditions under labor rights framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 305: Qualifying Nonprofit Organizations - Incarcerated Individual Training and Reentry Grant Fund - Extension

SB 305 extends funding for nonprofit organizations providing automotive repair training and reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals in Maryland. It extends the grant period from fiscal years 2026-2028 to 2026-2029, authorizing $1 million annually for qualifying nonprofits that train at least 50 individuals yearly in auto repair and achieve a 50% job placement rate for participants. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention administers the grants, requiring nonprofits to submit annual reports on fund usage, participant numbers, and employment outcomes. This bill directly affects nonprofits meeting specific service criteria and supports employment pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $1 million annually for nonprofit reentry programs, directly funding a social service through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends funding for job training/reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals, directly reducing recidivism through employment opportunities and rehabilitation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends funding for job training and placement programs targeting formerly incarcerated individuals, directly advancing employment outcomes and workforce reentry through mandated job placement rates.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 243: Uniformed Services Spouses Act

SB 243 expands existing Maryland benefits for military service members to include their spouses. It provides spouses of active-duty service members and veterans with priority enrollment at public colleges, access to community college resources (including dedicated advisors and veteran resource centers), and eligibility for senatorial and delegate scholarships. The bill also extends hiring preferences for spouses in state government roles through the Public Service Commission. These benefits apply within 15 years of the service member’s last active duty and end after the spouse’s fourth academic year. The law amends specific sections of Maryland’s education, labor, and state personnel codes to include "spouse of an eligible service member" as a qualifying status.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides priority enrollment, scholarships, and resources for military spouses at public colleges, directly expanding higher education access and support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends hiring preferences for military spouses in state government roles, enhancing employment opportunities and benefits for a specific workforce group.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands benefits to spouses of veterans (priority college enrollment, resources, scholarships, state hiring) strengthening veteran support system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 710: Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Reemployment After Retirement - Exemption from Earnings Offset

SB 710 exempts retirees from Maryland's Correctional Officers' Retirement System from having their retirement benefits reduced if they return to work as correctional officers or parole/probation staff in specific state correctional facilities. The bill amends pension law to remove the earnings offset requirement for these retirees when reemployed by the Division of Corrections, Division of Pretrial Detention, or Patuxent Institution for up to four years. This directly affects correctional officers who retired from the system and are rehired in authorized roles within state correctional facilities. The change ensures their retirement payments remain unchanged during this reemployment period, unlike the standard rule that reduces benefits for most other retirees returning to work.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts correctional retirees from earnings offset, facilitating workforce retention in corrections, directly supporting system stability and operational continuity.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExempts correctional officer retirees from earnings offset, preserving retirement benefits upon reemployment in specific state facilities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 647: Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System and State Police Retirement System - Line-of-Duty Catastrophic Injury Disability

SB 647 updates Maryland's Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System and State Police Retirement System to expand eligibility for line-of-duty disability benefits. It changes the qualifying standard from being "incapacitated for duty" to requiring members to be "totally and permanently unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity" due to a duty-related injury. This change affects current and future members of these systems who suffer catastrophic injuries while on duty, as defined in amended sections 24-401.1(k) and 26-401.1(k) of the Maryland Annotated Code. The bill modifies how the disability allowance is calculated and applied, focusing on the member's inability to work rather than just duty performance.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands disability benefit eligibility for law enforcement officers, aligning with 'expands worker benefits' in Labor & Employment policy.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 694: Human Relations - Violations of County Discrimination Laws - Complaints

SB 694 modifies Maryland law to shorten the waiting period before individuals can sue for discrimination under county laws. It changes the requirement from waiting 45 days (in Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties) or 60 days (in Baltimore County) after filing a complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights or a local county office to just 30 days. This applies specifically to cases involving employment discrimination or public accommodations in those counties. The bill directly affects people who experience discrimination and seek legal action under local county anti-discrimination codes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentShortens waiting period from 45/60 to 30 days for employment discrimination lawsuits, strengthening workers' ability to seek redress under county anti-discrimination laws.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 831: Labor Law - Child Labor Penalties, Private Sector Employee Labor Relations, and State Employee Labor Standards

SB 831 strengthens Maryland's child labor protections by establishing civil penalties for employers who violate child labor laws (replacing some misdemeanor penalties with fines), directly affecting employers and minors. It prohibits employers from supporting organizations that avoid federal labor law oversight (like those exempt from the National Labor Relations Act) and allows private employees to petition the Public Employee Relations Board for resolution of certain workplace issues. The bill also bans state government agencies from seeking federal waivers of the Fair Labor Standards Act. These changes impact employers, minors, private employees, and state employees across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStrengthens child labor protections with civil penalties, prohibits evasion of labor laws, and enables employee dispute resolution via PEB.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 772: Maryland Department of Health - Employment Training and Opportunity Database

SB 772 requires the Maryland Department of Health to create and maintain a public database of employment training and job placement programs. The database will help residents find opportunities that can lead to eligibility for Medicaid (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), including program details, application steps, and direct contact options. The Department must update the database every 30 days and assist individuals in enrolling in listed programs. Other state agencies, including the Department of Labor and Department of Human Services, must recommend programs for inclusion. This bill directly affects Maryland residents seeking to improve employment prospects while maintaining access to critical health and nutrition benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates database connecting job training to Medicaid/SNAP eligibility, improving access to healthcare coverage programs by streamlining enrollment pathways.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates database linking job training programs to Medicaid/SNAP eligibility, enhancing access to employment resources and benefits under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment