SB 683 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Catastrophic Event Account and Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund, Protection of Federal Benefits, and Powers of the Attorney General - Alterations (Protect Our Federal Workers Act)

SB 683 (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and expands its eligibility. The bill allows Maryland to use funds from the Catastrophic Event Account to assist federal workers affected by closures, relocations, or mass layoffs of federal offices (beyond just government shutdowns). It specifically adds these new circumstances to the Fund’s purpose, enabling loans to Maryland-resident federal employees who lost pay during shutdowns *or* were terminated due to federal facility changes beyond their control. The bill modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 7-324 and 7-327) to formalize these changes, ensuring the Fund remains continuously available for these purposes.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Catastrophic Event Account and Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund - Alterations (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) → Third - Catastrophic Event Account and Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund, Protection of Federal Benefits, and Powers of the Attorney General - Alterations (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was significantly expanded from its original version to include additional provisions for protecting federal benefits, increasing the Attorney General's authority, and adding new funding requirements. The bill now addresses former federal employees affected by government closures, allows the Department of Labor to share information with third-party vendors, and increases the Governor's annual appropriation to the Attorney General.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily addressing federal government shutdown assistance to also covering former federal employees affected by closures, relocation, or mass layoffs, and added new powers for the Attorney General regarding federal benefits protection.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for former federal employees who were terminated due to federal government closure, relocation, or mass layoffs, expanding beyond just current employees affected by shutdowns.

ENFORCEMENT

Authorized the Maryland Department of Labor to disclose certain information to third-party vendors and expanded the Attorney General's authority to take actions under certain circumstances.

FISCAL

Increased the amount the Governor is required to appropriate annually to the Attorney General for certain purposes and authorized disclosure of certain tax information to the Department of Labor.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for the Department of Labor to conduct certain research and make reports, and authorized the Governor to make certain transfers of funds.

TECHNICAL

Added new sponsors to the bill (Kagan, Ferguson, Guzzone, Hettleman, King, Lewis Young, McCray, and Zucker) and changed the bill classification to include Protection of Federal Benefits and Powers of the Attorney General.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2025

How they voted

34–11

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 46

Mar 23, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

1 Yea 11 Nay 1

84% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

Referred Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 23, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (34-11-1)

senate

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

First Reading Budget and Taxation

upper

32 primary · 0 co-sponsors