Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 136: Collective Bargaining - Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission - Police Officers

SB 136 extends collective bargaining rights under Maryland's state employee laws to police officers employed by the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission (ATCC) who are authorized to make arrests. It amends state law to explicitly include these officers under Section 3-102(a)(4) of the State Personnel and Pensions article, placing them in the same category as other covered state employees. This change applies to all full-time ATCC police officers at the rank of first sergeant and below, excluding supervisory or confidential roles as defined by regulations. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends collective bargaining rights to ATCC police officers, strengthening workers' rights under state employee laws as explicitly stated in the bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 449: Workers' Compensation - Heart Disease and Hypertension Presumption and Permanent Partial Disability - Carroll County Correctional Deputies

SB 449 extends workers' compensation benefits to Carroll County correctional deputies who develop heart disease or hypertension. It creates a legal presumption that these conditions are work-related (and thus compensable) if they result in partial disability or death, provided the condition is more severe than any pre-existing condition and the deputy had a medical exam before employment. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly include "Carroll County Correctional Deputy" in the definition of "public safety employee" for these benefits. This change applies specifically to Carroll County deputies and requires meeting the severity and medical exam conditions to qualify.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends workers' compensation coverage for work-related heart disease/hypertension, expanding health benefits for correctional deputies without requiring proof of causation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands workers' compensation benefits by presuming heart disease/hypertension in deputies is work-related, strengthening coverage for specific workplace health conditions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 532: Employment Standards - Firefighters - Payment of Wages and Payroll Information

HB 532 requires counties and municipalities in Maryland to calculate overtime pay for government-employed firefighters based on hours worked over 168 in a 28-day period (instead of the standard 40-hour workweek). It also mandates that these employers provide firefighters with specific payroll information at hiring, during pay rate changes, and with each paycheck - including pay rates, overtime rates, hours worked, and deductions. If employers fail to provide this information or pay due wages, firefighters or their representatives can file a grievance, triggering automatic damages that increase by 30% per pay period until resolved, capped at three times the missing amount. The bill directly affects all firefighters employed by Maryland local governments and aims to standardize overtime calculations and improve payroll transparency.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates accurate overtime calculation and detailed payroll transparency for firefighters, protecting wage rights and ensuring compliance with pay standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 27, 2026

HB 542: Earned Income Tax Credit - Individuals Without Qualifying Children - Eligibility

HB 542 expands Maryland's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income residents without qualifying children by raising the income level at which the credit begins to phase out. Specifically, it increases the phase-out threshold from $19,160 to higher amounts that will automatically adjust annually for inflation starting in 2026. This change directly benefits working Marylanders earning below the new phase-out limits, allowing them to retain more of their EITC. The bill modifies existing tax code (Section 10-704) to implement these higher income thresholds and annual inflation adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands EITC for low-income earners without children by raising phase-out threshold, increasing tax relief for working poor.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands EITC for low-income workers, increasing disposable income to improve housing affordability without explicit housing policy language.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands EITC access for low-income workers, increasing financial support without reducing benefits, directly advancing employment income standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

Track

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

Sub-Topics Gig Economy

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 19, 2026

HB 148: Consumer Protection and Labor and Employment - Surveillance-Based Price and Wage Setting - Prohibition

HB 148 prohibits businesses from using surveillance data (like personal behavior or biometric information) with automated systems to set customized prices for individual consumers or groups. It also bans employers from using such data to set customized wages for employees. The bill allows price/wage customization based on actual costs or standard, publicly available discounts (e.g., student or senior rates) that are openly disclosed. Violations would be enforced under Maryland’s existing consumer protection laws, with remedies including fines or injunctions. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans employers from using surveillance data to set customized wages, protecting workers from discriminatory pay practices while allowing standard discounts. Directly advances worker rights in wage setting.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits surveillance data use for personalized pricing/wages, strengthening data privacy protections per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

Track

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 387: Food Retailers and Third-Party Food Delivery Service Providers - Dynamic Pricing and Personal Data (Protection From Predatory Pricing Act)

SB 387 prohibits large food retailers (15,000+ sq ft) in Maryland from using dynamic pricing (real-time price changes based on demand or AI) or consumer surveillance data (like location or biometric tracking) to set prices for individual customers. It also bans using protected class data (e.g., race, gender) to deny accommodations or advantages to consumers. The bill further prevents retailers from reducing union-guaranteed employee benefits without negotiating with union representatives. These provisions aim to regulate pricing practices, prevent discriminatory data use, and protect collective bargaining agreements, with violations subject to enforcement under Maryland’s consumer protection laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents unilateral reduction of union-guaranteed benefits without negotiation, directly supporting collective bargaining rights.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits AI-driven dynamic pricing and consumer surveillance data use, protecting privacy from tech exploitation per bill's explicit restrictions on data collection and algorithmic pricing.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 516: Maryland Department of Labor - Investigation of Complaints - Requirements (Worksite Enforcement Act of 2026)

HB 516, the "Worksite Enforcement Act of 2026," requires the Maryland Department of Labor to establish standardized procedures for handling workplace complaints related to safety risks, wage theft, or administrative issues. It mandates specific response times to complainants (7 days for imminent safety risks, 14 days for wage theft, 30 days for record-keeping issues) and requires the Department to hire one investigator per defined regional zone (e.g., Western Maryland, Baltimore County/City) starting in FY2027. The bill also requires the Governor to include a $500,000 annual budget appropriation for these investigators beginning in FY2027. This law directly affects workers filing complaints, the Department of Labor, and state budget planning, focusing on improving complaint resolution speed and investigative capacity.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates faster investigations for safety/wage issues and requires dedicated enforcement staff, strengthening worker protections against violations like wage theft and safety risks.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 168: Housing and Community Development - Affordable Housing - Educator Workforce Housing and Municipal Corporations

HB 168 allows Maryland school districts to use state housing funds for developing housing specifically for teachers and school staff (called "educator workforce housing"). It explicitly states that such housing qualifies as an eligible use of state financial assistance under housing programs and ensures teachers are recognized as a "specified group" for federal low-income housing tax credits. The bill modifies existing laws to clarify that school districts can repurpose unused school properties for this housing and that state housing agencies must inform applicants about this eligibility. This directly affects school districts seeking to address housing needs for educators and teachers applying for federal housing tax credits.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables school districts to use state housing funds for teacher housing, directly supporting educator workforce stability and access to housing as a specified group for tax credits.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly permits using state housing funds for educator housing, qualifies it as eligible for state/federal programs, and designates teachers as a specified group for housing tax credits, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill designates teachers as a 'specified group' for housing benefits, directly supporting educator workforce housing as an employment standard under state/federal programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Affordable Housing Housing Finance Zoning

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 366: Workers' Compensation - Exemption From Exclusivity of Remedy - Action for Wrongful Death by Nondependent Child

HB 366 allows a nondependent child (such as an adult child or a child not financially supported by the parent) of a covered worker to file a wrongful death lawsuit against an employer following a work-related death. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly state that the workers' compensation exclusivity rule - typically preventing other lawsuits - does not apply to nondependent children in these cases. This change directly affects nondependent children who would otherwise be barred from seeking damages beyond workers' compensation. The bill does not alter the general rule that workers' compensation remains the primary remedy for most workplace injuries and deaths.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnables nondependent children to sue employers for work-related deaths, expanding legal recourse beyond standard workers' comp exclusivity, strengthening family rights after workplace fatalities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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