Maryland legislators recently ended the 2023 session with three significant bills headed to and likely to be signed by Gov. Wes Moore.
First, Senate Bill 828 would 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 noncompete agreements will increase, providing greater protections for low-wage workers.
Changes to Maryland's Time to Care Act
Maryland's Family Medical Leave Insurance Program, also known as the Time to Care Act, was enacted during a special session on April 9, 2022, during which the Maryland General Assembly overrode then-Gov. Larry Hogan's veto. The law provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave (or 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 law was the employee and employer contributions rates. Contributions were set to begin on Oct. 1, 2023. As of Jan. 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.
Senate Bill 828, which Moore is expected to sign, amends the law in the following significant ways:
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