Labor & Employment (Paid Leave)

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1241: Labor and Employment - Bereavement Leave and Leave for Family Illness - Qualifying Relationships and Type of Leave

HB 1241 expands Maryland's bereavement leave eligibility by redefining "qualified relationships" to include more individuals beyond immediate family. The bill adds grandparents, siblings, domestic partners, step-relatives, adoptive/foster relations, and de facto partners to the list of relationships qualifying for paid bereavement leave. This change directly affects Maryland employees who experience the death of these individuals, allowing them to take paid leave under state law. The bill amends Section 3-802 of the Maryland Annotated Code without altering leave duration or pay structure, maintaining existing employer thresholds (15+ employees) and excluding federal FMLA coverage.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands paid bereavement leave eligibility to include grandparents, siblings, domestic partners, and others, directly increasing worker benefits under Labor & Employment policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 793: Income Tax - Credit for Paid Organ Donation Leave

SB 793 creates a Maryland state income tax credit for employers who provide paid leave for employees donating organs. Qualified employers (those with a written policy 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. This directly affects employers offering this specific benefit and eligible employees who donate organs with physician verification.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides paid leave for organ donation, improving access to healthcare services by supporting donors without wage loss.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates tax credit for paid organ donation leave, expanding employee benefits and supporting workers' rights to take medical leave without wage loss95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1129: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Provider Agencies - Wages and Leave for Personal Care Aides

HB 1129 requires provider agencies that contract with Maryland's Medicaid program (specifically for services like Community First Choice and Community Personal Assistance) to pay personal care aides a minimum wage of $17 per hour and provide written wage notices. It mandates these agencies to offer 24 hours of paid sick leave annually (or upon hire) and additional paid leave at a rate of 1 hour per 30 hours worked after 720 hours in a year. The Maryland Department of Health can enforce compliance through corrective plans, program suspension, or termination for noncompliance. This bill directly affects personal care aides employed by Medicaid-reimbursed agencies, aiming to improve their compensation and leave benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires $17/hour wage and paid leave for Medicaid personal care aides, improving workforce stability and access to healthcare services under public health programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSets $17/hr minimum wage and mandates paid sick/leave benefits for personal care aides under Medicaid contracts, directly advancing worker compensation and benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Minimum Wage Paid Leave

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1410: Income Tax - Credit for Paid Organ Donation Leave

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates tax credit for paid organ donation leave, removing financial barriers to accessing healthcare services and improving access to critical medical procedures.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates tax credit for employers providing paid organ donation leave, enhancing employee benefits and workplace support through financial incentive for paid leave policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1579: State Personnel - Family and Medical Leave - Limits and Use

HB 1579 modifies Maryland state employee leave policies for family and medical care. It allows employees to take up to 30 days of paid leave without medical certification for childcare following a birth or adoption placement, and up to 60 days total for two employees jointly caring for a child. The bill also ensures state units cannot limit federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) coverage below 24 weeks for Executive Branch employees caring for a newborn, adopted child, or a child with a serious health condition. These changes apply specifically to employees in the State Personnel Management System within Maryland's Executive Branch, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands paid family leave for state employees, removing medical certification barriers and ensuring minimum 24 weeks coverage for newborns/adoptions, strengthening worker benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Professional Licensing Public Employees

Track

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026

HB 1524: Labor and Employment - Paid Leave - Attendance at School Functions

HB 1524 requires employers with 15 or more employees in Maryland to provide parent employees with 20 hours of paid leave annually to attend school functions for their child enrolled in public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school. This includes events like parent-teacher conferences or school performances, with employees needing to submit proof within 48 hours after the event. Employers must pay at the employee’s regular rate and cannot force parents to use existing sick or vacation leave instead. The law applies to all qualifying employers, including government entities, and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides paid leave for parents to attend K-12 school functions, removing financial barriers to parental engagement in education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates 20 hours annual paid leave for school functions, expanding worker benefits and protecting parental work-life balance under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers Paid Leave

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 536: Employment Discrimination - Reasonable Accommodations - Disabilities Due to Childbirth, Menopause, and Related Medical Conditions

HB 536 expands Maryland's employment discrimination protections to require reasonable accommodations for temporary disabilities related to childbirth, menopause, and lactation. It classifies these conditions as temporary disabilities under existing leave and benefits policies, mandating that employers treat them the same as other temporary disabilities for leave, seniority, and reinstatement. The bill requires employers to explore specific accommodations like modified duties, flexible hours, or transfers to less strenuous roles when requested. It also mandates employers to provide clear information about these rights to employees and allows health care provider certifications for accommodations, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates reasonable accommodations for childbirth/menopause/lactation disabilities, treating them equally with other temporary disabilities under leave policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Paid Leave

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 86: State and Local Employees - Cancer Screening - Paid Leave

HB 86 would require Maryland state and local government employers to provide up to 4 hours of paid leave annually for employees to attend cancer screening appointments (e.g., mammograms, colonoscopies). This applies to all state employees (including temporary and part-time staff across executive, judicial, and legislative branches) and county/municipal employees. Employees must obtain supervisor approval before using the leave, and employers must establish procedures for requests and approvals. The bill, scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026, does not cover cancer treatment, only preventive screenings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides paid leave for cancer screenings (mammograms, colonoscopies), directly improving access to preventive healthcare services for employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides paid leave for cancer screenings, expanding employee health benefits and protecting workers' rights to attend medical appointments without pay loss.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 724: Employment Discrimination - Caregiver Status

HB 724 prohibits employment discrimination based on "caregiver status" in Maryland. It defines caregiver status as providing ongoing care for a minor child or an individual with a disability who relies on the caregiver for medical care or daily needs, including family members like children, spouses, parents, or others in recognized familial relationships. The bill adds caregiver status to Maryland’s list of protected classes under anti-discrimination law, making it illegal for employers to discriminate in hiring, firing, compensation, or employment terms because of this status. It directly affects workers who are caregivers, ensuring they cannot face workplace bias for their caregiving responsibilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits employment discrimination against caregivers providing medical care, enabling continued healthcare access without job loss for those supporting patients with disabilities or medical needs.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds caregiver status to protected classes under anti-discrimination law, prohibiting employment discrimination based on caregiving responsibilities, directly strengthening worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Paid Leave

Track