Labor and Employment - Bereavement Leave and Leave for Family Illness - Qualifying Relationships and Type of Leave

Summary

The bill revises Maryland’s labor code so that employees can use paid leave when a loved one they have a "qualified relationship" with dies, adding grandparents, siblings, domestic partners, step‑, adoptive, foster and de‑facto relations to the definition. It also clarifies paid leave for caring for an immediate family member’s illness and allows unpaid leave for similar situations under an employer’s existing policy. The changes apply to larger employers that already provide paid leave under a collective‑bargaining agreement or policy.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

Hearings

• Finance — Bill Hearing
  Finance · Apr 1, 2026
• Senate Finance Committee
  Senate Finance Committee · Apr 1, 2026
• Government, Labor, and Elections — Bill Hearing
  Government, Labor, and Elections · Feb 26, 2026

History

1. Mar 25, 2026Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
2. Mar 23, 2026Referred Finance
3. Mar 21, 2026Third Reading Passed
4. Mar 20, 2026Second Reading Passed with Amendments
5. Mar 20, 2026Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
6. Mar 20, 2026Favorable with Amendments {
7. Feb 16, 2026Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
8. Feb 11, 2026First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections

Sponsors

• Acevero · sponsor
• Martinez
• Roberson
• Ruff

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

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