Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 1165: State Procurement - Apprenticeship Program Accountability and Completion

HB 1165 requires contractors working on certain state procurement contracts (called "covered procurements") to use apprenticeship programs with a minimum 25% completion rate, as determined by the Maryland Department of Labor. This applies to state contracts meeting specific criteria established by the Chief Procurement Officer. Contractors must provide written verification of program compliance before receiving a contract. The bill aims to ensure apprenticeship programs meet quality standards for state-funded projects.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires 25% apprenticeship completion rate to ensure quality training programs, advancing workforce development standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 503: Baltimore City Sheriff's Office - Collective Bargaining - Compensation

HB 503 allows full-time sworn deputy sheriffs (at lieutenant rank or below) and court security officers in Baltimore City to collectively bargain over compensation - including salary, wages, and city-managed benefits - as well as leave, hours, working conditions, and job security. It requires these officers to negotiate jointly with both the Sheriff and Baltimore City (not just one entity) for these matters, removing previous restrictions that excluded salary from bargaining. The bill excludes captains, appointed staff, civilian employees, part-timers, and temporary workers from these collective bargaining rights. This changes existing law to expand bargaining scope for eligible officers while specifying the joint negotiation process.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes exclusion of salary from collective bargaining for officers, expanding their right to negotiate compensation and working conditions under labor rights framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 305: Qualifying Nonprofit Organizations - Incarcerated Individual Training and Reentry Grant Fund - Extension

SB 305 extends funding for nonprofit organizations providing automotive repair training and reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals in Maryland. It extends the grant period from fiscal years 2026-2028 to 2026-2029, authorizing $1 million annually for qualifying nonprofits that train at least 50 individuals yearly in auto repair and achieve a 50% job placement rate for participants. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention administers the grants, requiring nonprofits to submit annual reports on fund usage, participant numbers, and employment outcomes. This bill directly affects nonprofits meeting specific service criteria and supports employment pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $1 million annually for nonprofit reentry programs, directly funding a social service through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends funding for job training/reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals, directly reducing recidivism through employment opportunities and rehabilitation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends funding for job training and placement programs targeting formerly incarcerated individuals, directly advancing employment outcomes and workforce reentry through mandated job placement rates.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes 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 · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 895: Food Retailers and Third-Party Delivery Service Providers - Dynamic Pricing and Personal Data (Protection From Predatory Pricing Act)

HB 895 prohibits large food retailers (defined as those with at least 15,000 square feet selling tax-exempt food) from using dynamic pricing (real-time price changes based on demand or AI) or consumer surveillance data to set prices for individual shoppers. It also bans retailers from using data about protected characteristics (like race or gender) to deny discounts or services to specific customers. The bill further protects union rights by preventing retailers from weakening employee benefits under existing collective bargaining agreements without negotiation. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, subject to enforcement and penalties.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly protects union rights and prevents weakening of employee benefits, directly advancing collective bargaining protections.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits AI-driven dynamic pricing and consumer surveillance data use, protecting consumer data privacy and preventing discriminatory pricing practices.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 744: Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Dorchester County

This bill requires Dorchester County to join the Correctional Officers' Retirement System (CORS) if it becomes a participating unit, mandating that certain local detention center officers (those employed before the effective date and remaining employed through it) must join CORS. Upon joining, these officers would receive service credit for their prior Dorchester County employment and would no longer be members of the Employees' Pension System, forfeiting all future benefits from that system. The bill specifies that the transfer of service credit follows CORS rules, not standard pension regulations, and takes effect June 1, 2026. It directly affects Dorchester County correctional officers currently covered by the Employees' Pension System.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentForfeits future pension benefits, weakening retirement security for correctional officers by mandating transfer from Employees' Pension System80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1102: Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Allegany County

HB 1102 requires Allegany County to mandate membership in the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System for certain local detention center officers if the county joins this system. It applies to officers employed by Allegany County before June 1, 2026, who remain employed through that date. If the county participates, these officers must transition from the Employees’ Pension System to the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System, forfeiting all future benefits from the old plan. The bill takes effect June 1, 2026, with service credit for prior employment transferred to the new system.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentForfeits existing retirement benefits for correctional officers, reducing worker benefits as per bill's requirement to transition from Employees' Pension System.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1016: Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Clauses - Licensed Architects - Employer Workforce Relocation and Out-of-State Employers

HB 1016 invalidates noncompete and conflict-of-interest clauses in employment contracts for certain employees if their employer relocates the majority of its employees or principal business location outside Maryland. It directly affects low-wage workers (earning ≤150% of state minimum wage), healthcare workers providing direct patient care (earning ≤$350,000 annually), and veterinary professionals. For high-earning healthcare workers ($350,000+), the bill allows limited 1-year noncompete restrictions within 10 miles of their prior workplace. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to contracts signed after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill invalidates noncompete clauses for healthcare workers providing direct patient care (≤$350k), protecting their mobility and workforce stability in healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentInvalidates noncompete clauses for low-wage, healthcare, and veterinary workers when employers relocate, directly protecting worker mobility and rights under employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment