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

SB 576, the Maryland Worker Freedom Act, prohibits employers from firing, disciplining, or refusing to hire employees or applicants who decline to attend or participate in mandatory employer-sponsored meetings about religious or political topics (like election views or religious practices). The law specifically protects workers who refuse to engage in such meetings where the employer shares its own opinions on these matters. Religious employers and voluntary meetings about these topics are exempt from the law. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2025, and directly affects most Maryland workers and job applicants in covered workplaces.