Labor & Employment (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.

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.

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.