HB 1424 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Support and Protections for Individuals Affected by Federal Actions (Protect Our Federal Workers Act)

HB 1424, the "Protect Our Federal Workers Act," expands state financial assistance to Maryland residents affected by federal government disruptions beyond just shutdowns. It renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and broadens eligibility to include current federal employees not paid during shutdowns *and* Maryland residents recently terminated due to federal office closures, relocations, or mass layoffs. The bill allows funds from the state’s Catastrophic Event Account to cover costs for these individuals, administered by the Maryland Department of Labor. This changes existing law to provide loans for both ongoing shutdowns and post-layoff financial hardship from federal facility changes.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Signed Apr 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Catastrophic Event Account, Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund, and Powers of the Attorney General - Alterations (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) → Enrolled - Support and Protections for Individuals Affected by Federal Actions (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) · 6 edits · Apr 22, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House draft to an Enrolled version, incorporating significant policy expansions. The primary change is the renaming of the loan fund and the addition of a new 'Expedited Hiring Program' to address federal workforce issues. The scope of funding was broadened to cover federal closures or layoffs, and new authorities were granted to the Department of Labor and Attorney General.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from focusing solely on federal government shutdowns to also covering closures, relocations, and mass layoffs of federal units. It also introduced a new Expedited Hiring Program within the Department of Budget and Management.

SCOPE

The bill title was updated to 'Support and Protections for Individuals Affected by Federal Actions,' broadening the focus beyond just shutdowns to include other federal disruptions.

FISCAL

Funding from the Catastrophic Event Account can now be used to assist with costs related to federal government closures, relocations, or mass layoffs, not just shutdowns.

ENFORCEMENT

New authority was granted to the Maryland Department of Labor to disclose specific information to third-party vendors and to forgive loans from the assistance fund.

REQUIREMENT

A new 'Expedited Hiring Program' was established within the Department of Budget and Management to help recruit for vacant state positions under certain circumstances.

The Secretary of Budget and Management is now authorized to contract with specific entities for certain purposes related to the bill's objectives.

DEFINITION

The name of the 'Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund' was changed to the 'Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund' to reflect the broader scope of assistance.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2025

How they voted

32–13

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 46

Mar 24, 2025

D Democratic33

32 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican13

13 Nay

100% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 22, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 97

executive

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Enrolled

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Report {

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Guzzone, Rosapepe and Jennings)

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Barnes, J. Lewis and Ivey)

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced

House Refuses Concur Senate Amendments

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 25, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (103-33-3)

house of delegates

Mar 24, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (32-13-1)

senate

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Referred Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate Ghrist) Adopted

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion Special Order until 03/05 (Delegate Buckel) Adopted

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Appropriations

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

First Reading Appropriations

lower

51 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role

Legislator

Party

State

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