This bill requires Maryland's Office of the Comptroller, with assistance from the Department of Human Services, to conduct a feasibility study on creating a program that would provide monthly payments to caregivers of specific family members. The study will examine economic impacts like potential increases in workforce participation, tax revenue, and reduced reliance on public benefits, while also identifying funding sources and administrative costs. It must be completed by July 1, 2027, and reported to relevant legislative committees. The bill does not establish the program itself but sets the groundwork for evaluating its potential. This study directly affects state agencies responsible for conducting the analysis, with no direct impact on caregivers or families until a future decision to implement the program.
HB 1307 requires employers receiving $250,000 or more in state public funds under a single contract to agree they will not engage in unfair labor practices defined under federal law (29 U.S.C. §158) and acknowledge that violations may result in the state recapturing those funds. It directly affects large state contractors by linking funding eligibility to compliance with federal labor protections under the National Labor Relations Act. The bill authorizes the state to recapture funds for up to two years after disbursement if violations occur, and allows employees to file complaints with the Attorney General, who must investigate and may sue for damages including full fund recovery. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1087 requires Maryland health care facilities performing surgeries that generate surgical smoke (like hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and freestanding medical facilities) to adopt policies mandating the use of smoke evacuation systems by January 1, 2028. These systems must capture and filter harmful surgical smoke particles at the source before they reach medical staff or patients. The bill defines "surgical smoke" as the gaseous byproducts from energy-generating surgical tools, including bio-aerosols and lung-damaging particles. This policy change aims to protect health care workers and patients from exposure to potentially hazardous smoke during procedures.
This bill allows licensed clinical social workers to evaluate permanent impairments related to behavioral or mental disorders in workers' compensation claims, expanding beyond current requirements that limited this role to psychologists or physicians. To qualify, social workers must meet specific training standards in mental health conditions, hold rehabilitation counselor registration, have two years of relevant experience, and be authorized providers. It directly affects workers seeking compensation for mental health-related impairments and the social workers providing these evaluations. The law amends Maryland's workers' compensation code to include these requirements, effective October 1, 2026.
This bill requires Maryland nursing homes to spend at least 75% of their total nursing and residential care revenue on direct care staff wages and benefits (including nurses, dietary, therapy, and social workers). Nursing homes must annually submit detailed cost reports by September 1 starting in 2027, including proof of wage payments and other data determined by the Maryland Department of Health. Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions, including suspension from the Maryland Medical Assistance Program. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting all nursing homes operating in Maryland.
HB 797 prohibits employers from discriminating against fire and rescue public safety employees who use medical cannabis, provided they have a valid written certification from a licensed healthcare provider under Maryland's medical cannabis program. The bill modifies existing law to clarify that an employer cannot take adverse employment actions (like termination or denial of promotion) solely due to medical cannabis use, as long as the employee meets the state's certification requirements. It updates definitions in Maryland law to ensure fire and rescue employees qualify for the same protections as other medical cannabis patients under the existing program. The law does not override workplace safety rules or require employers to accommodate cannabis use during work hours.
SB 764 establishes a minimum wage of $25.00 per hour for education support professionals in Maryland public schools, effective July 1, 2028. It directly affects county boards of education (which must pay this wage) and noncertificated school staff in non-supervisory bargaining units, such as aides, secretaries, and maintenance workers. The bill requires the State Department of Education to report by December 1, 2026, on the cost of implementing this wage, broken down by school system. It does not change current wages but mandates a new hourly rate for these positions starting in 2028.
HB 862 requires railroad companies operating freight trains on tracks shared with passenger or commuter trains in Maryland to maintain a minimum crew of two people. This applies to most freight movement but excludes hostler service and yard operations for utility employees. Violations carry civil penalties up to $25,000 per incident, with railroad companies held solely responsible for employee violations. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, contingent on similar legislation passing in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
HB 1194 exempts retired correctional officers from having their retirement benefits reduced if they return to work for specific state correctional agencies. The bill changes Maryland law so that retirees reemployed by the Division of Corrections, Division of Pretrial Detention, or Patuxent Institution as correctional officers or parole/probation staff for up to four years will not face the usual earnings offset that would lower their retirement payments. This applies only to those returning to correctional roles at these designated facilities, not to all retirees. The change removes a financial penalty currently applied when retirees work for the same type of employer (state or non-state) after retirement. It directly affects retired correctional officers who return to these specific state correctional positions.
SB 889 prohibits businesses from using consumer data (like browsing habits) to set dynamic prices for goods or services, and bans food retailers with over 15,000 square feet from using electronic shelf labels for pricing. Instead, these retailers must display prices using physical methods like stickers, tags, or signs. The bill also bans employers from using employee data to set wages and makes violations of these rules enforceable under Maryland's Consumer Protection Act. It directly affects large food retailers, businesses using data-driven pricing, and workers whose wages might be influenced by surveillance-based systems.
