On April 10, 2023, Maryland legislators ended the 2023 session (known as sine die) with three significant bills headed to, and likely to be signed by, Governor Wes Moore.
First, Senate Bill 828 will bring sweeping changes to the Time to Care Act, Maryland's version of paid family leave. Second, Maryland's minimum wage will increase to $15.00 sooner than employers anticipated, and third, the salary threshold under Maryland's ban on non-competition restrictions will increase, providing greater protections for "low wage" workers.
As readers may recall, the Family Medical Leave Insurance Program, also known as the Time to Care Act (the Act) was enacted during a Special Session on April 9, 2022, during which the Maryland General Assembly overrode Governor Hogan's veto. For background on the Act, see our April 12, 2022 article. In general, the Act provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave (24 weeks in certain circumstances) via an insurance-like program under which covered employees apply to the state for benefits.
One key provision missing from the 2022 version of the Act was the employee and employer contributions rates. Contributions were set to begin on October 1, 2023; thereafter, as of January 1, 2025, covered employees would have been able to apply for benefits. Employees would have been required to exhaust all employer-paid leave before applying for benefits under the Act.
Senate Bill 828, which Governor Moore is expected to...
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