SB 710 exempts retirees from Maryland's Correctional Officers' Retirement System from having their retirement benefits reduced if they return to work as correctional officers or parole/probation staff in specific state correctional facilities. The bill amends pension law to remove the earnings offset requirement for these retirees when reemployed by the Division of Corrections, Division of Pretrial Detention, or Patuxent Institution for up to four years. This directly affects correctional officers who retired from the system and are rehired in authorized roles within state correctional facilities. The change ensures their retirement payments remain unchanged during this reemployment period, unlike the standard rule that reduces benefits for most other retirees returning to work.
SB 930 allows certain Maryland State Police retirees who participated in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) to apply for special disability retirement benefits if they became totally and permanently disabled due to a work-related injury while enrolled in DROP. It specifically targets DROP participants who: enrolled after July 1, 2020; had a work-related accident before enrolling; and stopped participating in DROP before July 1, 2026. These retirees must submit an application by December 31, 2026, to qualify for disability benefits calculated based on their final compensation date. The bill modifies existing retirement rules to create this eligibility window without changing the medical requirements for disability certification.
HB 1068 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to provide a 60-day special enrollment period for individuals who become newly hired by small businesses that do not offer employer-sponsored health plans. This applies to people purchasing coverage through the state’s health insurance marketplace (Individual Exchange) or outside it. The special enrollment period begins on the first day of employment and allows new hires to enroll in health insurance without waiting for the standard open enrollment period. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, directly benefiting newly employed workers at small businesses without health benefits.
SB 503 requires the Governor to include $450,000 annually in the state budget for the Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program during fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2026, and 2028-2030. The bill formalizes funding for grants to support local programs that help establish and sustain family child care services, directly affecting family child care providers and local jurisdictions (counties or groups of counties). To receive funds, counties must partner with a child care resource center to jointly apply for and administer the grants. The program, administered with the Maryland Child Care Resource Network, aims to provide start-up assistance for family child care homes serving children under 13 or developmentally disabled individuals under 21.
HB 1515 prohibits noncompete and conflict of interest clauses in employment contracts for certain healthcare workers if their employer relocates most operations outside Maryland after the employee leaves. It specifically applies to:
- Employees earning ≤ $350,000 annually in licensed, direct patient care roles (or veterinary professionals),
- *or* employees of employers who previously had >30 in-state employees but later move most operations out of state.
For higher-earning healthcare workers ($350,000+), the bill limits noncompete terms to 1 year and a 10-mile geographic radius. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not apply to client/patient list restrictions.
SB 886 establishes a constitutional right for Maryland workers in food service to be paid at least the state minimum wage without counting tips toward that amount. It removes existing exemptions allowing employers to use tip credits (where tips reduce required wages) and prohibits businesses from including tip credits in employee pay starting on a specified date. The bill also requires food service facilities to clearly disclose any service fees on menus or before ordering, and mandates that such fees be distributed to employees. These changes directly affect tipped workers in restaurants and cafes, and businesses charging service fees in Maryland.
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.
HB 1229 establishes a constitutional right for Maryland workers to receive at least the state minimum wage without counting tips toward that amount. It bans employers from using tip credits for tipped employees (effective on a specified date) and requires food service facilities to prominently disclose any service fees to customers before ordering. The bill repeals exemptions that allowed lower wages for certain workers (like those in security roles) and updates consumer protections around service fees under Maryland law. These changes directly affect food service workers and restaurant customers, ensuring fairer wage treatment and transparent fee practices.
SB 885 authorizes Maryland's State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue licenses for online gaming and bingo operations, while establishing new regulations for these activities. It directly affects former video lottery facility employees through a new "Video Lottery Facility Employee Displacement Fund" to support them, and impacts school funding by requiring counties to use revenue from online gaming to offset local education tax calculations starting in fiscal year 2028. Key provisions include mandating that counties subtract gaming revenue from their education funding calculations and instead appropriate that revenue directly to school budgets, as specified in revised sections of Maryland law. The bill also requires the Commission to regulate online gaming operations and submit the law to a voter referendum.
HB 1410 creates a Maryland state income tax credit for employers who provide paid leave for employees donating organs. Qualified employers (those with written policies paying 100% of wages during organ donation leave) can claim a credit equal to 100% of wages paid during the first 12 weeks of leave. Unused credit can be carried forward for up to three years. The bill applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and requires employers to submit documentation proving eligibility to the Maryland Department of Health.
