🏛️ Legislative Update — March 2–6, 2026

We are now officially halfway through the 2026 legislative session, and things are not slowing down anytime soon. As crossover quickly approaches, it is important now more than ever to stay engaged. We continue to press forward in the 2026 session of the Maryland General Assembly, submitting written and in-person testimony on a wide range of bills aimed at strengthening worker protections, expanding collective bargaining rights, and ensuring public investments support good jobs. You can read all of our submitted testimony here:

👉https://mddclabor.org/2026-testimony.

It’s just over ONE WEEK until Union Night at Lawyer’s Mall — March 9 at 6:00 PM.

Show up and show out with your members. Lawmakers need to see us. They need to hear us. And they need to feel that labor is organized, mobilized, and paying attention.

Bring your labor siblings. Bring your friends. Bring your family. Pack Lawyer’s Mall and make it unmistakably clear that working people are watching what happens in Annapolis.

Reminder: Weekly Labor Lobbyist Meetings

Our weekly labor lobbyists meetings will continue every Monday night at 5pm at the Maryland State & DC AFL-CIO headquarters through April 6th (except on March 9th’s Union Night).

• In-Person participation is highly encouraged and preferred. Please RSVP to Elizabeth Bobo at ebobo@mddclabor.org.
• A virtual option is available, but it is strictly listen-only. Email Elizabeth to request a Zoom link.

What’s Happening the Week of March 3–6 | Annapolis

It’s a packed week in Annapolis. Collective bargaining rights, unemployment reform, binding arbitration for public employees, nursing home wages, education pay standards, AI in schools and the workplace — the agenda is stacked and the implications for working people and labor are real.

Below are what’s scheduled for next week’s hearings.

🔴 LABOR TESTIFYING IN PERSON 

🟡 SUBMITTING WRITTEN TESTIMONY

🔵 MONITORING

Tuesday, March 3 – 1:00 PM

🔹 Budget Hearing – Department of Budget and Management – Personnel
Hear about state spending and workforce impacts. Public employees are not the only ones impacted by budget hearings. 

🟡 HB 831 — Collective Bargaining – Local Government Employees and Public Employee Relations Act 
Summary: Changes to the state’s collective bargaining framework for public employees; allows for binding arbitration in the event of impasse.
🔗 Official bill page: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0831?ys=2026RS

🔴 HB 895 — Protection from Predatory Pricing Act 
Summary: Places limits on dynamic pricing and surveillance-driven pricing practices for food retailers; includes provisions involving collective bargaining and data protections.
🔗 Bill page: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0895?ys=2026RS

🟡 HB 1037 — Broadband Accountability and Affordability Act  
Summary: Expands oversight of broadband and VoIP services by the Public Service Commission to improve accountability and coverage; unfortunately exempts small providers, a loophole that could hurt the folks that this bill is designed to help.
🔗 Bill page: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1037?ys=2026RS

🟡 SB 663 — Nursing Homes: Direct Care Wages and Benefits and Cost Reports 

Summary: Requires nursing homes to spend at least 75% of revenues on direct care wages/benefits and to file annual cost reports with the Maryland Department of Health.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0663?ys=2026RS 

🟡 SB 764 — Minimum Wage for Education Support Professionals 
Summary: Increases wage protections for education support professionals (paraprofessionals, aides, custodians); sets a standard wage floor in public education.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0764?ys=2026RS

🟡 HB 932 — Maryland Transit Administration – Fifth Bus Division Facility – Construction  
Summary: Authorizes construction of a new bus division facility for the MTA to support transit operations and maintenance.
🔗 Bill page: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0932?ys=2026RS

Wednesday, March 4 – 1:00 PM

🔵 SB 284 — Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2026 
Summary: Major fiscal package adjusting appropriations, revenue distributions, tax provisions, and fund usage across state programs.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0284?ys=2026RS

🟡 HB 1057 — Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act 
Summary: Establishes guidelines and professional development around AI use in public schools to ensure safe, effective implementation.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1057?ys=2026RS

🟡 SB 904 — Education: Public Schools Service Contracts & Professional Development 
Summary: Sets standards for educational service contracts and reinforces professional development requirements.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0904?ys=2026RS

🔴SB 909 — Vehicle Laws: Fully Autonomous Vehicles 
Summary: Updates vehicle code to allow and regulate fully autonomous vehicles on Maryland roads. 
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0909?ys=2026RS

Thursday, March 5 – 1:00 PM

Labor & Worker Protections

🔴 HB 1539 — Maryland Labor Relations Act
Summary: Overhauls state labor relations framework; potential impacts on union rights and bargaining. Hugely important to union members and potential union members in the event of shifts in federal labor law. 
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1539?ys=2026RS

🔹 HB 1480 — Labor Law Reform
Summary: Comprehensive labor law reform, including child labor penalties, private-sector labor relations, and state employee standards.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1480?ys=2026RS

🟡 HB 1356 — Maryland Employee Civic Activity and Lawful Expression Protection Act  
Summary: Protects employees from retaliation when engaging in civic and related lawful activities; shifts burden to employers in retaliation claims.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1356?ys=2026RS

🟡 HB 1515 — Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Clauses – Employer Relocation  
Summary: Limits enforceability of noncompetes and related clauses tied to employer-mandated relocations.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1515?ys=2026RS

🟡 HB 1414 — Nursing Homes: Direct Care Wages & Benefits  
Summary: Mirrors SB 663 in the House; requires cost reporting and direct care expenditure minimums from nursing homes.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1414?ys=2026RS

Gaming & Economic Development

🔴 HB 1240, HB 1255 & HB 1343 — Sports Wagering & Internet Gaming Expansion
Summary: Authorizes wagering on historical horse races and expands commercial gaming, including internet gaming.
🔗 HB1240: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1240?ys=2026RS 
🔗 HB1255: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1255?ys=2026RS
🔗 HB1343: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1343?ys=2026RS 

🔵 SB 869 — Maryland Workforce Launch Pilot Program 
Summary: Establishes a pilot to expand workforce training and economic development opportunities.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0869?ys=2026RS

Friday, March 6 – 1:00 PM

🔴 HB 1173 — State Procurement: Contractor & Vendor Restrictions 
Summary: Limits use of state funds/resources for entities engaging in specific prohibited actions.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1173?ys=2026RS 

🟡 HB 1307 — State Finance & Procurement: Unfair Labor Practices 
Summary: Prevents employers with unfair labor practices from receiving state funds.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1307?ys=2026RS 

🟡 HB 1352 — Worker Residency Requirements 
Summary: Requires certain contractors to hire a defined share of local resident workers.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1352?ys=2026RS 

🟡 SB 947 — Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act 
Summary: Broad reforms to MTA operations, accountability, and service delivery.
🔗 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0947?ys=2026RS

📝 HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY

Planning to testify on upcoming legislation? Great. To ensure that your testimony counts, follow the rules and use the tools available.

👉 Step-by-step instructions are available here: https://mddclabor.org/how-testify-maryland-general-assembly-step-step-guide

Testimony Guidelines to Know

• All testimony submissions (oral sign-up and written testimony) must be completed through the MyMGA portal.
• Testimony opens up 2 business days before the hearing date (i.e. if your bill is heard on a Tuesday, testimony is due by Friday). Testimony is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
• The bill orders are usually posted on the website by noon on the day of the hearing.
• All testimony will be public record and searchable online.
• No late submissions. Miss the deadline or try to switch from in-person to virtual after it closes, and you’re out.

Need help? You don’t have to figure this out alone. If you have questions or run into issues submitting testimony, reach out to Elizabeth Bobo at ebobo@mddclabor.org.

Upcoming Events

Weekly Labor Lobbyist Meetings 

🗓 Monday, March 2 | 🕠 5PM 

📍 In Person (preferred — yes, there’s food!) 
Maryland State & DC AFL-CIO Headquarters
7 School Street
Annapolis, MD

Union Night in Annapolis 

🗓 Monday, March 9 | 🕠 6PM 

📍 Lawyer's Mall, Annapolis

📬 Stay Connected. Stay Union Strong.

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• Legislative updates important to you and your members
• Mobilization efforts
• Victories for working people
• Calls to action that matter

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