In its 2026 session, the Maryland General Assembly passed several significant pieces of legislation that, if enacted, will impact private employers in Maryland, including one that streamlines the process for bringing civil actions under county discrimination laws, several that bolster employee labor rights, and other bills that are more specific to a particular industry or public employees.

Quick Hits

• SB694 would establish that filing a complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights satisfies the administrative prerequisites for bringing a civil action under county discrimination laws.
• SB831/HB1480 would establish new civil penalties for child labor violations, prohibit the formation of certain workplace groups to address working conditions, and conditionally create a private sector state labor board.
• SB417/HB45 would prohibit employers from conducting mandatory meetings on religious or political matters, which includes union organizing matters (e.g., “captive audience meetings”).
• HB1016 would expand the restrictions on noncompete agreements, but only as to licensed architects when their employers relocate outside the state.
• SB0439/HB0797 would provide employment protections to fire and rescue public safety employees for the use of medical cannabis.
• Other bills would extend collective bargaining rights for various public employees, including nontenure-track faculty and graduate students at state universities, as well as Baltimore County Public Library...

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