Legislative Update - Week of Feb. 16
Celebrate President’s Day by attending our weekly Monday Night Labor Lobbyists Meeting, Monday at 5:00 PM as scheduled. The General Assembly does not take a holiday.
Please RSVP to Elizabeth Bobo at ebobo@mddclabor.org so we can plan accordingly.
As hearings continue, please check our Labor Legislative Calendar regularly for updated schedules and bill activity. Things are moving quickly. Legislators will be voting on our bills from next week forward.
First, contact each committee member about our bills and get a commitment that they will vote yes to pass it. Thank them for committing their support. Show up for the voting session.
Session is accelerating. Stay engaged. Stay visible. Stay organized.
🔎WEEKLY BILL TRACKER
Week of February 16
All hearings at 1:00 PM unless noted
Below are the bills the State Federation is tracking this week. Click each bill number to read the full text on the Maryland General Assembly website.
🔴LABOR TESTIFYING IN PERSON
🟡SUBMITTING WRITTEN TESTIMONY
🔵MONITORING
📅TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
SB 387 – Protection From Predatory Pricing Act
Senate Finance
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0387?ys=2026RS
Prohibits certain food retailers from using dynamic pricing or consumer surveillance data to set prices; bars the use of protected class data for discriminatory pricing; and stops changes that would diminish rights or benefits under existing collective bargaining agreements without negotiation. Provides enforcement remedies under consumer protection law.
HB 317 – Certification of Compliance With State Labor Laws
House Economic Matters
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0317?ys=2026RS
Requires entities receiving state economic development assistance or state contracts to annually certify they aren’t under certain adverse determinations and are complying with state labor law obligations. It also directs state units to pause award/renewal of contracts or assistance for non-compliance until corrected.
HB 473 – Collective Bargaining & Class Size
House Ways & Means
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0473?ys=2026RS
Expands collective bargaining rights for certified education employees by incorporating class size considerations into negotiations.
SB 411 – Safe Staffing Act of 2026
Senate Finance
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0411?ys=2026RS
Establishes clinical staffing committees in licensed hospitals with equal management and employee representation. Requires these committees to develop and annually review staffing plans that meet patient needs. Crossfiled companion is HB 624 in House Health.
📅WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
SB 28 – Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026
Senate Budget & Taxation
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0028?ys=2026RS
Alters the collective bargaining process for state employees by establishing a neutral arbitrator process at impasse and mandating budget appropriations for agreed contract terms; includes proposed constitutional amendment language.
SB 417 – Maryland Worker Freedom Act
Senate Finance
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0417?ys=2026RS
Prohibits mandatory employer “captive audience” meetings for anti-union, political, or religious matters.
HB 624 – Safe Staffing Act (Crossfile of SB 411)
House Health & Government Operations
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0624?ys=2026RS
Companion bill advancing hospital safe staffing standards (see SB 411 above).
SB 388 – DECADE Act
Senate Budget & Taxation
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0388?ys=2026RS
Alters designation, purposes, and eligibility for economic development programs and adjusts certain tax credit expiration dates.
SB 445 – Firefighter Wage Transparency
Senate Finance
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0445?ys=2026RS
Strengthens wage payment standards and payroll transparency for firefighters.
SB 457 – County Property Tax Subclasses
Senate Budget & Taxation
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0457?ys=2026RS
Authorizes counties to create separate tax subclasses for land and improvements.
SB 311 – Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Revisions
Senate Education, Energy & the Environment
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0311?ys=2026RS
Revises components of the state’s major education reform law.
📅THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19
HB 149 – Fire Prevention & Safety Updates
House Environment & Transportation
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0149?ys=2026RS
Updates fire marshal designation and training requirements, mandates certain smoke detector and sprinkler equipment in high-rise residential buildings, and establishes licensure standards for fire alarm system technicians.
SB 439 – Medical Cannabis Protections for Fire & Rescue Employees
Senate Finance
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0439?ys=2026RS
Prohibits employment discrimination for lawful off-duty medical cannabis use.
🛎 Reminder: Testimony sign-up and written submissions are handled exclusively through the MyMGA portal, with strict deadlines and no late entries. Check committee schedules early and often.
Have you submitted your own testimony yet? Upload your written testimony through the MyMGA portal so your voice is heard — every member story matters.
Share your testimony submissions with us via email unions@mddclabor.org. Note: This is for testimony that you've already submitted to MyMGA. We will not submit on your behalf but we will help you create testimony if you need help.
If you are out lobbying, we'd love photos of that too. Include your photos in your email! View what's been submitted so far by visiting: https://mddclabor.org/2026-testimony
This is NOT a comprehensive list of bills that we're watching. Come to our Monday lobbyist meetings if you want more information about what's happening in Annapolis.
📝 HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY (READ THIS BEFORE THE PORTAL CLOSES)
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 atebobo@mddclabor.org.
Upcoming Events
Senate Bill Introduction Deadline (27th Day)
Labor Legislative Lobbying Meeting
🗓 Monday, February 16
🕔 5:00 PM
📍 Maryland State & DC AFL-CIO
7 School Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
RSVP via email to attend in person (there is food!). Zoom participation is limited to pretty much listen-only. Reach out to Elizabeth Bobo for a link.
Union Night in Annapolis
🗓 Monday, March 9
📍 Maryland State House
All affiliates are strongly encouraged to attend and bring as many members as possible. Union Night is about visibility, solidarity, and reminding state decision-makers exactly who working people are—and how many of us there are.
Legislative Hearings & Key Dates
🗓 Ongoing throughout the session
Stay in-the-know with hearings, deadlines, and important legislative moments by checking our online calendar: https://mddclabor.org/maryland-state-legislative-calendar-0
📬 Stay Connected. Stay Union Strong.
Hear from us about:
- Legislative updates important to you and your members
- Mobilization efforts
- Victories for working people
- Calls to action that matter