Legislative Update - Week of Feb. 23

Current Advocacy and Legislative Updates

Your advocacy is essential to labor’s success. Thank you to everyone who has supported labor’s bills thus far. The State Federation has stood in solidarity with our unions including AFT-MD, AFSCME, UAW, UFCW 400, IBEW, IUPAT, IUOE, ATU, and more. Remember, when labor stands together, we win.

Weekly Labor Lobbying Meetings

Our weekly labor lobbyists meetings will continue every Monday night at 5 PM at the Maryland State & DC AFL-CIO headquarters through April 6th. These meetings provide a vital space for robust conversation regarding the legislation we are testifying on, supporting or opposing, and tracking. These meetings provide a unique opportunity to discuss current and upcoming legislation with union siblings from across Maryland, prepare for lobbying visits, and network with your labor counterparts.

• 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.

Recap of the First 40 Days

We are officially 40 days into the 2026 legislative session, almost halfway, and nearly 3,000 bills have been introduced across both Chambers. We have read through all bills, and of the more than 200 bills the State Federation is tracking, we have already submitted written testimony or testified in person on over 50 bills affecting workers across every sector. Below is a snapshot of some of the major legislation labor is championing this session.

This is exactly the moment when labor must be seen, heard, and impossible to ignore.

As we approach March, hearings will be longer, and committees have already begun voting sessions. The work only gets faster from here. With decisions moving quickly and major bills advancing, our voices need to be in the room, on the record, and at the table to ensure working people are uplifted. Your outreach to committee members could be the catalyst to passing a bill. It is not too late to email legislators.

Major Legislation Updates

SB6/HB106 - State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Nontenure Track Faculty

Nontenure track faculty have spent more than a decade organizing for the basic workplace rights already afforded to thousands of Maryland public employees, yet state law denies them the freedom to form and join a union of their choice. This legislation corrects that injustice by extending collective bargaining rights to the educators who teach the majority of undergraduate courses and sustain the academic mission of our public institutions. 

SB84/HB141 - State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Graduate Assistants

Collective bargaining is a fundamental exercise of freedom and democracy that allows workers to negotiate as equals with their employers. This legislation simply ensures that graduate workers at USM, Morgan State, and St. Mary’s College can exercise their right to organize and decide for themselves whether to form a union. 

SB60/HB299 - Fraud Prevention, Prevailing Wage, and Living Wage - Prohibitions, Penalties, and Enforcement

Workplace fraud is widespread across Maryland, and even if only a fraction of employers are caught, it is still fraud that demands accountability. This legislation strengthens enforcement by expanding the Commissioner’s authority so investigations move faster, decisions stay on track, and employers can no longer stall cases until workers give up. 

SB28/HB604 - Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026

This legislation amends the Maryland Constitution to establish binding arbitration for certain state worker collective bargaining, a process widely used in both the private and public sectors. This legislation brings balance to negotiations by ensuring both parties are motivated to bargain in good faith and reach timely agreements. 

SB417/HB45 - Maryland Worker Freedom Act

Workers should not be forced to sit through their employer’s personal political or religious views just to keep their job. “Captive audience” meetings strip employees of a basic freedom: the right to decide for themselves whether to engage in these conversations without fear of retaliation. This bill is about protecting workers from coercion.

SB3/HB188 - Unemployment Modernization Act of 2026

Unemployment insurance is one of the most important tools we have to prevent working people from falling into financial crisis when they lose their job. It stabilizes families, keeps communities thriving, and supports the broader economy. This legislation strengthens our UI system by raising the minimum and maximum weekly benefit amount at a moment when Maryland’s workforce urgently needs it.

Stay Informed

If you haven't already, please bookmark the Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO Legislative Calendar. With hearings and voting sessions being scheduled on short notice, consistent visibility is our greatest asset.

Upcoming Events

Labor Legislative Lobbying Meeting
🗓 Monday, February 23
🕔 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.

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Reminder:

Testimony sign-up and written submissions are handled exclusively through the MyMGA portal, with strict deadlines and no late entries. If you have questions or issues submitting testimony, reach out to Elizabeth Bobo at ebobo@mddclabor.org.

⚖️ 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 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• 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.