Labor and Employment - Unpaid Parental Leave - Definition of Employer

HB 1340 modifies Maryland's unpaid parental leave law by changing the definition of "employer" to exclude businesses already covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This means employers with 15-49 employees who comply with federal FMLA requirements will no longer need to provide additional state-mandated unpaid parental leave. The bill directly affects small-to-midsize Maryland businesses (15-49 employees) that are FMLA-covered, removing a separate state obligation. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not create new benefits but adjusts existing requirements.