SB 6 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Nontenure Track Faculty

SB 6 would extend collective bargaining rights to nontenure track faculty at Maryland's public universities, including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The bill creates a separate bargaining unit for these faculty members - defined as full-time, part-time, or adjunct employees with academic responsibilities like teaching or research - removing them from the previous exclusion under "faculty" in collective bargaining rules. It amends state law to require each institution to establish this distinct unit alongside other employee groups, ensuring nontenure track faculty can negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Oct 29, 2025 Signed May 26, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Nontenure Track Faculty → Third - State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Nontenure Track Faculty · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was advanced to a favorable committee stage and adopted by the Senate, moving it closer to becoming law. The text includes minor formatting updates to the header and a reorganization of the definitions section, but the core policy regarding collective bargaining rights for nontenure track faculty remains substantively unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the reorganization of definitions does not alter which employees are covered or excluded.

TIMELINE

Added status updates indicating the bill was reported favorably by the committee and adopted by the Senate, with a second reading scheduled for March 1, 2026.

DEFINITION

Reorganized the definitions section to group related terms together and updated the definition of 'Nontenure Track Faculty' to clarify that academic responsibilities include instruction.

Added a new definition for 'Fully Online Institution' to clarify that faculty at such institutions are excluded from collective bargaining rights.

Added an exclusion for faculty whose positions are fully funded through research/service grants, contracts, or clinical revenues.

Reordered the list of specific job titles included under 'Faculty at the Maryland School for the Deaf' for better readability.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

How they voted

34–12

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 49

Mar 3, 2026

D Democratic36

33 Yea 3

91% Yea

R Republican13

1 Yea 12 Nay

92% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 695

executive

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Apr 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Referred Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (34-12-3)

senate

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

First Reading Finance

upper

Oct 29, 2025

Introduced

Pre-filed

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors