Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 748: Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Allegany County

SB 748 requires Allegany County correctional officers to join the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System if the county participates in it, replacing their current membership in the Employees’ Pension System. Officers who join this system will automatically lose all membership and future benefit rights in the Employees’ Pension System. The bill applies to officers employed by Allegany County’s detention center before June 1, 2026, and transitioning to the new system. This change takes effect on June 1, 2026, with no transfer of pension benefits governed by standard rules.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill requires correctional officers to forfeit existing pension benefits, weakening retirement security and eliminating future rights under the previous system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 740: Transportation Network Companies - Deactivation of Operators

SB 740 requires transportation network companies (like ride-hailing apps) to create and follow clear policies for deactivating drivers. It mandates that companies must notify drivers in writing before restricting their access to the platform for 48+ hours and provide specific reasons for deactivation. The bill directly affects drivers who use digital platforms to connect with passengers, ensuring deactivation decisions align with published policies. It also defines "egregious misconduct" (e.g., serious safety threats) as the only valid reason for deactivation beyond routine traffic violations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates clear deactivation policies with written notice and specific reasons, protecting drivers from arbitrary removal and ensuring due process in employment decisions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 831: Labor Law - Child Labor Penalties, Private Sector Employee Labor Relations, and State Employee Labor Standards

SB 831 strengthens Maryland's child labor protections by establishing civil penalties for employers who violate child labor laws (replacing some misdemeanor penalties with fines), directly affecting employers and minors. It prohibits employers from supporting organizations that avoid federal labor law oversight (like those exempt from the National Labor Relations Act) and allows private employees to petition the Public Employee Relations Board for resolution of certain workplace issues. The bill also bans state government agencies from seeking federal waivers of the Fair Labor Standards Act. These changes impact employers, minors, private employees, and state employees across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStrengthens child labor protections with civil penalties, prohibits evasion of labor laws, and enables employee dispute resolution via PEB.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 28: Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026

SB 28 requires state agencies and institutions (like the University System of Maryland and Maryland Environmental Service) to use a neutral third-party arbitrator from the American Arbitration Association's panel when collective bargaining reaches an impasse. It mandates that budget bills include all necessary funds to implement agreements reached through bargaining, including memoranda of understanding (MOUs) covering employee terms and conditions. The bill makes the arbitrator's recommendations advisory (not binding) and sets deadlines for negotiations to conclude by September 30. This directly affects state employees represented by exclusive bargaining units and ensures funding for negotiated terms is included in annual budgets.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates budget bills include funds for employee agreements (MOUs), ensuring fiscal implementation of bargaining outcomes and supporting public sector funding.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates neutral arbitration for collective bargaining impasses and requires budget funding for implemented agreements, strengthening worker negotiation rights and protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 94: Commercial Law - Earned Wage Access - Revisions

SB 94 prohibits earned wage access providers in Maryland from accepting tips, offering tip options, or suggesting tips influence loan terms. It requires providers to clearly disclose that tips don’t affect services and must offer at least one no-cost earned wage access option. The bill also mandates providers return any tips that would make loan rates exceed legal limits within 7 days. These changes directly affect consumers using earned wage access services and the providers offering them.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects workers from EWA provider exploitation by banning tip-related practices, mandating disclosure, and requiring no-cost options. Directly advances worker financial rights in wage access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 480: Transportation Network Companies - Deactivation of Operators

HB 480 requires transportation network companies (like Uber or Lyft) operating in Maryland to create and follow a clear written policy for deactivating drivers. The bill mandates companies must notify drivers of deactivation reasons and provide specific information, and prohibits deactivation unless it follows the published policy. It defines "egregious misconduct" (such as repeated traffic violations or safety threats) as the only valid reason for deactivation, excluding minor violations. This directly affects drivers who could be deactivated and companies required to maintain transparent, consistent procedures.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates clear deactivation policies for drivers, prohibits arbitrary termination for minor issues, and requires notification - protecting workers' rights from unilateral company actions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 604: Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026

HB 604, the Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026, changes how state employees negotiate contracts at institutions like the University System of Maryland and the Maryland Environmental Service. It requires a neutral arbitrator to help resolve bargaining impasses if negotiations stall by September 1, with the arbitrator chosen from a national panel by September 15; the arbitrator’s recommendations would be advisory, not binding. The bill also mandates that each annual budget must include full funding for all terms in existing labor agreements, such as written contracts between the state and employee representatives. This directly affects state employees covered by collective bargaining and their representatives in negotiations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires neutral arbitrator for contract negotiations, supporting collective bargaining resolution by preventing impasses without binding outcomes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 557: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process

HB 557 creates a pre-approval review process for individuals with non-violent criminal convictions seeking occupational licenses (e.g., cosmetology, contracting, healthcare roles) in Maryland. It requires state departments (excluding Public Safety and Correctional Services) to provide a binding determination on whether an applicant’s criminal history would block their license *before* they formally apply, based on specific criteria like the nature of the offense, time since conviction, and rehabilitation evidence. The bill prohibits denial solely for past non-violent convictions unless a direct relationship to the job or safety risk exists, and establishes a $100 fee (waivable for low-income applicants) for the review. It applies to most occupational licenses but excludes sex offense convictions and automatically allows licenses after 7 years without new offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates pre-approval for occupational licenses post-non-violent conviction, reducing reentry barriers and promoting rehabilitation - key criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves licensing barriers for non-violent offenders, expanding employment access and protecting workers' rights to pursue licensed careers in healthcare, cosmetology, etc.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 417: Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)

SB 417 (Maryland Worker Freedom Act) prohibits most private employers from firing, disciplining, or refusing to hire employees who decline to attend or participate in employer-sponsored meetings about religious or political matters. The bill requires employers to notify workers about these protections and allows employees to file complaints with the Maryland Commissioner of Labor and Industry within 180 days of a violation. If violations are found, the Commissioner may impose civil penalties up to $10,000 for first offenses or $25,000 for repeat violations, and issue cease-and-desist orders. Exemptions include religious organizations, political groups, schools, government entities, and mandatory compliance training.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employer retaliation for refusing religious/political meetings, directly protecting workers' rights to decline participation without discipline or termination.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 411: Hospitals - Clinical Staffing Committees and Plans - Establishment (Safe Staffing Act of 2026)

SB 411 requires non-state hospitals in Maryland to establish clinical staffing committees with equal representation from management and frontline staff, including nurses, technicians, and other caregivers. These committees must develop evidence-based staffing plans considering patient acuity, staffing gaps, and daily patient needs, which hospitals must implement starting January 1, 2028. Hospitals must annually review these plans, publicly post staffing data on units, and submit annual reports to the Maryland Health Care Commission beginning in 2030. The bill directly affects hospital operations, staffing decisions, and transparency for frontline workers and patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to establish staffing committees and develop evidence-based plans addressing patient acuity and staffing gaps, directly improving patient safety and care quality per healthcare policy indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires equal frontline staff representation in staffing committees, directly strengthening worker input on workplace safety and staffing conditions per bill's evidence-based plan mandate.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment