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 · 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