Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 748: Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Allegany County

SB 748 requires Allegany County correctional officers to join the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System if the county participates in it, replacing their current membership in the Employees’ Pension System. Officers who join this system will automatically lose all membership and future benefit rights in the Employees’ Pension System. The bill applies to officers employed by Allegany County’s detention center before June 1, 2026, and transitioning to the new system. This change takes effect on June 1, 2026, with no transfer of pension benefits governed by standard rules.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill requires correctional officers to forfeit existing pension benefits, weakening retirement security and eliminating future rights under the previous system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 744: Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Dorchester County

This bill requires Dorchester County to join the Correctional Officers' Retirement System (CORS) if it becomes a participating unit, mandating that certain local detention center officers (those employed before the effective date and remaining employed through it) must join CORS. Upon joining, these officers would receive service credit for their prior Dorchester County employment and would no longer be members of the Employees' Pension System, forfeiting all future benefits from that system. The bill specifies that the transfer of service credit follows CORS rules, not standard pension regulations, and takes effect June 1, 2026. It directly affects Dorchester County correctional officers currently covered by the Employees' Pension System.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentForfeits future pension benefits, weakening retirement security for correctional officers by mandating transfer from Employees' Pension System80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1102: Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Allegany County

HB 1102 requires Allegany County to mandate membership in the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System for certain local detention center officers if the county joins this system. It applies to officers employed by Allegany County before June 1, 2026, who remain employed through that date. If the county participates, these officers must transition from the Employees’ Pension System to the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System, forfeiting all future benefits from the old plan. The bill takes effect June 1, 2026, with service credit for prior employment transferred to the new system.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentForfeits existing retirement benefits for correctional officers, reducing worker benefits as per bill's requirement to transition from Employees' Pension System.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 439: Employment Discrimination - Fire and Rescue Public Safety Employees - Use of Medical Cannabis

SB 439 prohibits Maryland fire and rescue public safety employers from taking negative employment actions (like firing or denying promotions) against employees who use medical cannabis, provided the employee has a valid medical cannabis certification under state law. It amends existing Maryland law to explicitly add this protection for public safety workers, aligning with current medical cannabis certification requirements. The bill does not change how medical cannabis is certified but ensures these employees cannot face discrimination solely for using cannabis legally under the state program. This applies to all fire and rescue employees who meet the state's medical cannabis eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects medical cannabis users' employment rights, advancing healthcare access for public safety workers under state medical cannabis certification.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employment discrimination against public safety workers using medical cannabis, directly protecting workers' rights under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 735: Earned Income Tax Credit - Assistance Program Implementation Delay and Study

HB 735 delays Maryland's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Assistance Program implementation until 2029 (from 2024) and requires two key studies. The Comptroller's Office must study outreach methods to help eligible low-income residents claim the state EITC by December 31, 2030. The Department of Service and Civic Innovation must also recommend ways to assist low-income residents in claiming tax credits and accessing support. This bill directly affects Marylanders who qualify for the EITC but may not have claimed it, without changing the credit amount or eligibility rules.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill delays EITC implementation until 2029, restricting immediate financial assistance for low-income residents that supports housing affordability.70% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentDelays EITC implementation until 2029, restricting immediate financial support for low-income workers, a core labor benefit.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 445: Employment Standards - Firefighters - Payment of Wages and Payroll Information

SB 445 requires counties and municipalities in Maryland to calculate overtime pay for firefighters based on hours worked over 168 hours in a 28-day period (instead of the standard 40-hour workweek). It also mandates that employers provide firefighters with detailed payroll statements at hiring, when pay rates change, and for each pay period, including hours worked, gross earnings, and deductions. If a county or municipality fails to provide required payroll information or pay due wages, firefighters or their representatives can file a grievance to recover missing wages plus increasing damages of 30% per pay period - capped at three times the amount due - until resolved. This bill directly affects firefighters employed by local governments and clarifies their entitlement to transparent payroll records and timely compensation.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentIncreases overtime threshold from 160 to 168 hours over 28 days, reducing overtime eligibility for firefighters.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

failed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 299: Fraud Prevention, Prevailing Wage, and Living Wage - Prohibitions, Penalties, and Enforcement

HB 299 prohibits employers from knowingly creating or using false records or statements that cause underpayment of unemployment insurance contributions or overpayment of benefits exceeding $15,000 annually. It requires civil penalties from fraud violations to be deposited into the Unemployment Insurance Fund and mandates the Labor Commissioner and Attorney General to enforce wage laws, including prevailing wage and living wage requirements. The bill also authorizes license revocation for workplace fraud violations and strengthens coordination between state agencies investigating fraud. This primarily affects employers, contractors, and licensed businesses subject to wage and unemployment insurance laws in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enforces prevailing/living wage requirements and prevents fraud depleting unemployment fund, protecting workers' wages and benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 386: Metro Funding Modification Act of 2026

HB 386 modifies Maryland's funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) by requiring the Governor to withhold 35% of annual grants under specific conditions. It directly affects WMATA and Maryland's budget process, mandating that the Governor withhold funds if WMATA fails to submit required reports (like safety assessments and financial data) or if it doesn't develop a rail signaling workforce transition plan by July 2028. The bill also requires WMATA to provide detailed annual reports on safety, ridership, finances, and capital investments to trigger full funding. If WMATA receives a modified audit opinion without a corrective plan, or misses the workforce plan deadline, the Governor must withhold the funds until these conditions are met.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill conditions WMATA funding on compliance, promoting fiscal accountability and responsible budget management through withheld grants.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates WMATA develop rail signaling workforce transition plan by 2028, directly addressing worker transition needs during system changes.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill conditions WMATA funding on safety assessments and planning compliance, ensuring responsible transit fund use and operational accountability.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 1108: Labor and Employment - Greenhouse Workers - Collective Bargaining and Heat Protection

HB 1108 grants collective bargaining rights to workers in Maryland greenhouses (controlled-environment agricultural operations), allowing them to form unions and negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions with employers. The bill requires the state Labor Secretary to establish regulations for union elections, certification, and resolving bargaining disputes, while mandating greenhouse employers to provide rest breaks during extreme heat to prevent heat-related illness. This law directly affects greenhouse workers and their employers, creating a formal process for union representation and heat protection. It amends Maryland's labor code to include these specific protections for greenhouse workers, who previously lacked these rights under state law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates rest breaks during extreme heat to prevent heat-related illness, directly protecting worker health and aligning with public health safety measures.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants collective bargaining rights and mandates heat protection for greenhouse workers, advancing labor rights and workplace safety.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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