Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 604: Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026

HB 604, the Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026, changes how state employees negotiate contracts at institutions like the University System of Maryland and the Maryland Environmental Service. It requires a neutral arbitrator to help resolve bargaining impasses if negotiations stall by September 1, with the arbitrator chosen from a national panel by September 15; the arbitrator’s recommendations would be advisory, not binding. The bill also mandates that each annual budget must include full funding for all terms in existing labor agreements, such as written contracts between the state and employee representatives. This directly affects state employees covered by collective bargaining and their representatives in negotiations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires neutral arbitrator for contract negotiations, supporting collective bargaining resolution by preventing impasses without binding outcomes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 557: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process

HB 557 creates a pre-approval review process for individuals with non-violent criminal convictions seeking occupational licenses (e.g., cosmetology, contracting, healthcare roles) in Maryland. It requires state departments (excluding Public Safety and Correctional Services) to provide a binding determination on whether an applicant’s criminal history would block their license *before* they formally apply, based on specific criteria like the nature of the offense, time since conviction, and rehabilitation evidence. The bill prohibits denial solely for past non-violent convictions unless a direct relationship to the job or safety risk exists, and establishes a $100 fee (waivable for low-income applicants) for the review. It applies to most occupational licenses but excludes sex offense convictions and automatically allows licenses after 7 years without new offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates pre-approval for occupational licenses post-non-violent conviction, reducing reentry barriers and promoting rehabilitation - key criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves licensing barriers for non-violent offenders, expanding employment access and protecting workers' rights to pursue licensed careers in healthcare, cosmetology, etc.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 417: Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)

SB 417 (Maryland Worker Freedom Act) prohibits most private employers from firing, disciplining, or refusing to hire employees who decline to attend or participate in employer-sponsored meetings about religious or political matters. The bill requires employers to notify workers about these protections and allows employees to file complaints with the Maryland Commissioner of Labor and Industry within 180 days of a violation. If violations are found, the Commissioner may impose civil penalties up to $10,000 for first offenses or $25,000 for repeat violations, and issue cease-and-desist orders. Exemptions include religious organizations, political groups, schools, government entities, and mandatory compliance training.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employer retaliation for refusing religious/political meetings, directly protecting workers' rights to decline participation without discipline or termination.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 411: Hospitals - Clinical Staffing Committees and Plans - Establishment (Safe Staffing Act of 2026)

SB 411 requires non-state hospitals in Maryland to establish clinical staffing committees with equal representation from management and frontline staff, including nurses, technicians, and other caregivers. These committees must develop evidence-based staffing plans considering patient acuity, staffing gaps, and daily patient needs, which hospitals must implement starting January 1, 2028. Hospitals must annually review these plans, publicly post staffing data on units, and submit annual reports to the Maryland Health Care Commission beginning in 2030. The bill directly affects hospital operations, staffing decisions, and transparency for frontline workers and patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to establish staffing committees and develop evidence-based plans addressing patient acuity and staffing gaps, directly improving patient safety and care quality per healthcare policy indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires equal frontline staff representation in staffing committees, directly strengthening worker input on workplace safety and staffing conditions per bill's evidence-based plan mandate.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 624: Hospitals - Clinical Staffing Committees and Plans - Establishment (Safe Staffing Act of 2026)

HB 624 (Safe Staffing Act of 2026) requires most Maryland hospitals to establish clinical staffing committees with equal management and employee representation, including specific frontline staff like nursing assistants and dietary aides. These committees must develop annual staffing plans considering patient acuity, staffing gaps, and evidence-based standards, then post the plans publicly and update them yearly. Hospitals must implement these plans starting in 2028, allow staff to file complaints about violations, and report annually to the Maryland Health Care Commission beginning in 2030. The law directly affects licensed hospitals and frontline healthcare workers by mandating structured, transparent staffing processes to address patient care needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospital staffing committees and evidence-based plans to improve patient safety and care quality, advancing healthcare standards95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates equal employee-management representation in staffing committees, requires evidence-based staffing plans addressing patient acuity, and protects worker complaint mechanisms - directly advancing workplace safety and employment standards for...95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 449: Workers' Compensation - Heart Disease and Hypertension Presumption and Permanent Partial Disability - Carroll County Correctional Deputies

SB 449 extends workers' compensation benefits to Carroll County correctional deputies who develop heart disease or hypertension. It creates a legal presumption that these conditions are work-related (and thus compensable) if they result in partial disability or death, provided the condition is more severe than any pre-existing condition and the deputy had a medical exam before employment. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly include "Carroll County Correctional Deputy" in the definition of "public safety employee" for these benefits. This change applies specifically to Carroll County deputies and requires meeting the severity and medical exam conditions to qualify.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends workers' compensation coverage for work-related heart disease/hypertension, expanding health benefits for correctional deputies without requiring proof of causation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands workers' compensation benefits by presuming heart disease/hypertension in deputies is work-related, strengthening coverage for specific workplace health conditions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 216: Unemployment Insurance - Confidentiality of Information

SB 216 updates Maryland's unemployment insurance confidentiality rules to align with federal requirements. It clarifies that claim details (including benefit amounts, address, and work refusal history), wage information, and other personal data are protected as "confidential unemployment insurance information." The bill allows limited disclosure to child support enforcement agencies when permitted under federal law, while adding penalties for unauthorized leaks by current or former Maryland Department of Labor employees. These changes directly affect unemployment claimants, employers, and child support agencies by defining how personal financial data may be shared.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects workers' personal data in unemployment claims, preventing unauthorized disclosure and aligning with federal privacy standards to safeguard sensitive information like benefit amounts and work history.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly protects personal data (confidentiality of unemployment info) under privacy safeguards, directly supporting data privacy within technology policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 242: Unemployment Insurance - Confidentiality of Information

HB 242 updates Maryland's unemployment insurance confidentiality rules to align with federal requirements. It clarifies that personal details like benefit amounts, home addresses, and work refusal history (covered under federal income verification rules) are confidential, directly affecting claimants and the Maryland Department of Labor. The bill establishes specific exceptions allowing child support enforcement units to access certain claim information under federal guidelines, while adding penalties for unauthorized disclosure by department employees. These changes ensure compliance with federal regulations without altering benefit eligibility or payment processes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies confidentiality of personal unemployment details (benefit amounts, addresses), protecting claimants' privacy and aligning with federal standards, advancing worker rights protection.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 262: Income Tax - Subtraction Modification for Classroom Supplies Purchased by Teachers - Alteration

SB 262 expands Maryland's income tax deduction for teachers by adding prekindergarten teachers to the list of eligible educators who can deduct up to $250 annually for unreimbursed classroom supply expenses. The bill amends tax code sections to include prekindergarten classroom teachers employed full-time in state programs as "eligible teachers," alongside existing K-12 teachers. This deduction applies only to supplies used by students or for teaching preparation, and excludes expenses already deducted federally. The change takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax deduction for teachers, providing tax relief to middle-income educators via $250 annual classroom supply deduction.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tax deduction for teachers to include prekindergarten educators, providing financial relief for classroom supplies. Directly supports educators through tax benefit expansion.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands tax deduction for teachers' unreimbursed classroom supplies, enhancing financial support for educators as part of employment benefits.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment