Labor & Employment

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 26, 2026

HB 1634: Cannabis Licensure - Labor Peace Agreements and Collective Bargaining

This bill requires cannabis license applicants and existing licensees in Maryland to obtain a labor peace agreement as a condition of licensure, unless they already have a collective bargaining agreement in place. A labor peace agreement is defined as a contract between the cannabis business and a labor organization that prohibits strikes, picketing, boycotts, or other economic disruptions for the first five years of the license. The bill applies to all cannabis facilities and requires businesses to provide clear and convincing evidence that such agreements exist with any union or employee group representing workers in the state. This policy aims to prevent labor disputes from disrupting cannabis operations during the critical early years of business operation.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill requires labor peace agreements that prohibit strikes and picketing for five years, limiting collective bargaining rights and worker organizing protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 21, 2026

SB 995: Cannabis Licensure - Labor Peace Agreements and Collective Bargaining

This bill requires cannabis license applicants and existing licensees in Maryland to secure a labor peace agreement with any labor organization representing workers in the state as a condition for receiving a license. The agreement must prohibit strikes, picketing, boycotts, or other economic disruptions for the first five years of the license and must be legally enforceable under federal law. Licensees already covered by collective bargaining agreements are exempt from this requirement. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts collective bargaining by requiring labor peace agreements that prohibit strikes and picketing for five years, limiting workers' rights to organize and negotiate.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 786: Transportation of Persons With Disabilities - Transportation Network Companies - Requirements

SB 786 exempts transportation network companies (like ride-sharing apps) contracted with Maryland Transit Administration to provide disability transit services from requiring full criminal history checks and a mandatory employee training course. Instead, these companies must conduct annual background screenings for their drivers serving people with disabilities. The bill directly affects contracted transportation network operators providing disability transit services in Maryland. It modifies Maryland law to adjust requirements specifically for these contracted service providers, replacing certain checks with annual screenings while maintaining safety standards.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill reduces mandatory background checks and training for drivers, weakening workplace safety regulations for disability transit service providers.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill reduces background check requirements for disability transit services, weakening safety standards by replacing full checks with annual screenings.85% confidence

Tags People with Disabilities

Track

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

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

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 14, 2026

SB 978: Community Colleges - Collective Bargaining - Definition of Supervisory Employee

SB 978 defines "supervisory employee" for collective bargaining purposes in Maryland community colleges. It specifies that a supervisory employee must have authority to hire/fire/promote, direct over 50% of another employee's work hours, and resolve complaints. The bill excludes department heads, comparable positions, and faculty below assistant dean level from this classification. This definition directly affects community college staff whose bargaining rights depend on their supervisory role.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExcludes department heads/faculty from supervisory classification, restricting collective bargaining eligibility for affected staff per bill's definition.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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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

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 779: Better Small Business Employee Benefit Act of 2026

SB 779 exempts professional employer organizations (PEOs) from certain health benefit plan requirements when offering coverage to small employers in Maryland. It directly affects small businesses that use PEOs for employee benefits and the PEOs themselves. The bill requires PEOs to provide written disclosure of plan details to small employers before offering coverage, while removing the need for PEOs to comply with standard health plan mandates like offering plans through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. This change simplifies access to health benefits for small employers using PEOs.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareExempts PEOs from health plan mandates, reducing required coverage standards for small business employees. This restricts comprehensive benefits per bill language.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRemoves standard health plan mandates protecting worker benefits, weakening employer requirements for PEOs in small business health coverage.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Tags Small Business

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 997: State Finance and Procurement - Prevailing Wage Rate - Calculation

HB 997 modifies how Maryland's Commissioner of Labor and Industry calculates prevailing wage rates for state construction projects. It prohibits the use of wage data from investor-owned electric and gas companies when determining these rates, and requires the Commissioner to vacate any prevailing wage rate calculated using such prohibited data. The bill mandates a recalculation using allowable data sources for affected projects. This directly impacts state contractors and workers on public works projects requiring prevailing wage compliance, ensuring rates reflect broader local wage patterns rather than utility sector data. The changes apply to state procurement projects covered under Maryland's prevailing wage laws.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExcludes higher wage data from utility companies, likely lowering prevailing wage rates for public construction projects, weakening worker compensation protections.85% confidence

Track

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