Labor & Employment (Collective Bargaining)

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 26, 2026

HB 1634: Cannabis Licensure - Labor Peace Agreements and Collective Bargaining

This bill requires cannabis license applicants and existing licensees in Maryland to obtain a labor peace agreement as a condition of licensure, unless they already have a collective bargaining agreement in place. A labor peace agreement is defined as a contract between the cannabis business and a labor organization that prohibits strikes, picketing, boycotts, or other economic disruptions for the first five years of the license. The bill applies to all cannabis facilities and requires businesses to provide clear and convincing evidence that such agreements exist with any union or employee group representing workers in the state. This policy aims to prevent labor disputes from disrupting cannabis operations during the critical early years of business operation.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill requires labor peace agreements that prohibit strikes and picketing for five years, limiting collective bargaining rights and worker organizing protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 21, 2026

SB 995: Cannabis Licensure - Labor Peace Agreements and Collective Bargaining

This bill requires cannabis license applicants and existing licensees in Maryland to secure a labor peace agreement with any labor organization representing workers in the state as a condition for receiving a license. The agreement must prohibit strikes, picketing, boycotts, or other economic disruptions for the first five years of the license and must be legally enforceable under federal law. Licensees already covered by collective bargaining agreements are exempt from this requirement. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts collective bargaining by requiring labor peace agreements that prohibit strikes and picketing for five years, limiting workers' rights to organize and negotiate.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2026

HB 1539: Maryland Labor Relations Act

HB 1539 creates the Maryland Labor Relations Board as an independent state agency to oversee collective bargaining for certain private sector employees. The bill establishes that eligible employees have the right to form or join unions, elect certified representatives, and engage in collective bargaining with employers. It outlines procedures for union elections, certification of representatives, and resolving disputes over unfair labor practices. The law specifically covers most private sector workers but excludes agricultural laborers, domestic workers, independent contractors, and supervisors. The new board will enforce these provisions and handle related elections and complaints.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes independent board for collective bargaining rights, protects union formation/elections, and outlines dispute resolution procedures for private sector workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 1108: Labor and Employment - Greenhouse Workers - Collective Bargaining and Heat Protection

HB 1108 grants collective bargaining rights to workers in Maryland greenhouses (controlled-environment agricultural operations), allowing them to form unions and negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions with employers. The bill requires the state Labor Secretary to establish regulations for union elections, certification, and resolving bargaining disputes, while mandating greenhouse employers to provide rest breaks during extreme heat to prevent heat-related illness. This law directly affects greenhouse workers and their employers, creating a formal process for union representation and heat protection. It amends Maryland's labor code to include these specific protections for greenhouse workers, who previously lacked these rights under state law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates rest breaks during extreme heat to prevent heat-related illness, directly protecting worker health and aligning with public health safety measures.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants collective bargaining rights and mandates heat protection for greenhouse workers, advancing labor rights and workplace safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Professional Licensing

Track

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

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 922: Collective Bargaining - Local Government Employees and Public Employee Relations Act

SB 922 establishes collective bargaining rights for county and municipal employees in Maryland by applying the state's Public Employee Relations Act to local governments. It defines "public local employees" (excluding confidential/management staff and school/library workers) and requires counties/municipalities to adopt local labor laws for negotiations. Key provisions include mandatory good-faith bargaining, binding arbitration for unresolved disputes, and procedures for local governments to seek board reviews of their labor policies. The bill directly affects local government workers and employers across Maryland's counties and cities, excluding school boards, community colleges, and public libraries.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes collective bargaining rights for local government employees via mandatory negotiations and binding arbitration, strengthening worker representation and labor rights under Public Employee Relations Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

Track

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

HB 1173: State Procurement - Contractors and Vendors - Restrictions on Use of State Funds and Resources

HB 1173 prohibits state contractors and vendors from using public funds to influence employees of their company (including subcontractors) regarding union membership or support for employee organizations. It specifically bans using state funds to fund anti-union campaigns, efforts to prevent collective bargaining rights, or activities opposing union certification. The law applies to all contractors and vendors working with state government units, covering both direct employee influence and third-party anti-union activities. Exceptions include standard collective bargaining processes, grievance resolution, and activities required by law. This bill directly affects state contractors, vendors, and their employees by restricting how public funds can be used in labor relations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits state contractors from using public funds for anti-union campaigns, protecting collective bargaining rights and worker organizing efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing

Track

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

HB 831: Collective Bargaining - Local Government Employees and Public Employee Relations Act

HB 831 establishes collective bargaining rights for county and municipal employees in Maryland by applying the state's Public Employee Relations Act (PERA) to local government workplaces. It defines "public local employees" (excluding confidential and management staff) and creates procedures for negotiations, including binding arbitration to resolve disputes between local governments and employee representatives. The bill also modifies the Public Employee Relations Board's structure and explicitly excludes school boards, community college boards, and public library systems from coverage. This directly affects thousands of local government workers across Maryland's counties and municipalities who will now have formalized bargaining processes for wages, hours, and working conditions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes collective bargaining rights for local government employees under PERA, directly supporting worker organizing and negotiation rights per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 1492: Collective Bargaining - Public Employees - Revocation of Certification and School and Library Employees' Right to Strike

HB 1492 establishes the right to strike for specific public school and library employees in Maryland, including certificated and noncertificated staff like substitute teachers, nurses, and JROTC instructors in certain counties. The bill prohibits public school and library employers from taking disciplinary action against employees who participate in or support strikes. It repeals the Public Employee Relations Board’s authority to deny or revoke a union’s certification as an exclusive bargaining representative under certain circumstances. These changes apply to defined groups of employees under Maryland’s Education Article, ensuring their collective bargaining rights are protected from employer retaliation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects teachers' right to strike and prohibits retaliation, strengthening educator rights and workplace protections in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes strike rights for public school/library employees, prohibits disciplinary action for striking, and strengthens union certification protections per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing Public Employees

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 14, 2026

SB 978: Community Colleges - Collective Bargaining - Definition of Supervisory Employee

SB 978 defines "supervisory employee" for collective bargaining purposes in Maryland community colleges. It specifies that a supervisory employee must have authority to hire/fire/promote, direct over 50% of another employee's work hours, and resolve complaints. The bill excludes department heads, comparable positions, and faculty below assistant dean level from this classification. This definition directly affects community college staff whose bargaining rights depend on their supervisory role.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExcludes department heads/faculty from supervisory classification, restricting collective bargaining eligibility for affected staff per bill's definition.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

Track