Employee Benefits and Relations Archives

Counties Resist Costly Overhaul of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Calculation

On February 11, Associate Policy Director Karrington Anderson testified before the Economic Matters Committee in opposition to HB 188 – Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act of 2026. This bill fundamentally restructures how minimum and maximum weekly unemployment insurance (“Unemployment”) benefits are calculated by tying them to the state average weekly wage, rather than the fixed statutory schedule used under current law. Because counties reimburse the State for unemployment benefits, the bill would impose immediate and substantial…

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February 12, 2026

Employee Benefits and Relations / MACo Testimony

Counties Defend Training Repayment Tools

On February 5, Executive Director Michael Sanderson testified before the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in opposition to HB 203 – Labor and Employment - Training Repayment Agreements - Prohibition. This bill would broadly prohibit employers, including county governments, from entering into training repayment agreements with employees. Mr. Sanderson emphasized that these agreements, signed openly by both parties, are often an essential tool in recruiting and retaining public sector staff, notably in public service professions.…

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February 6, 2026

Employee Benefits and Relations / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections

MACo to MGA: Maintain Collaborative Approach to Public Official Salaries

On February 4, Executive Director Michael Sanderson submitted written testimony to the Judiciary Committee in opposition to HB 165 – Courts - Sheriffs' Salaries - Alterations. The bill alters the annual salary of Sheriffs in many counties to equal that of the county's State's Attorney. This legislation would replace a locally-driven legislative collaboration to properly set salaries for most county sheriffs with a uniform process pinning that salary to that of the county’s state’s attorney.…

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February 5, 2026

Employee Benefits and Relations / MACo Testimony

Proposed Paid Leave Mandate Adds Administrative and Fiscal Strain for Counties

On January 27, Associate Policy Director Karrington Anderson submitted written testimony to the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in opposition to HB 86 – State and Local Employees - Cancer Screening - Paid Leave. This bill would mandate that state and local governments, as public employers, provide four hours of paid cancer screening leave, separate from any existing leave policies. Under current law and county practice, cancer screening is an allowable and appropriate use of…

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January 28, 2026

County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Pensions & Public Funds

FY 2026 County Workforce Compensation and Benefit Trends

What does it really cost to employ a public sector workforce - and how do these costs change year to year? Behind every county budget are critical decisions about salaries, health benefits, and pensions that are essential for effective workforce and fiscal planning. Every year, Human Resources Officers across each jurisdiction provide valuable insights into the core components of public sector employment. The FY 2026 County Employee Salaries, Health Benefits, and Pensions Report offers a…

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January 28, 2026

Education / Labor

Career-Connected Learning Vital for High School Graduates Entering Job Market

A growing trend across the nation shows schools making significant efforts to connect students to potential career pathways. Recent studies show it soon might be the primary way to address the needs of an evolving job market and work force as fractures in candidate-company alignment continue to develop. Maryland, along with many other states, have invested millions to implement more robust programing to get students career-ready during high school. But a growing wave of misalignment…

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January 8, 2026

Employee Benefits and Relations / Information Technology

MD Launches Rebuilt Maryland.gov as State’s New Digital Front Door

Maryland has launched a rebuilt Maryland.gov designed to simplify how residents access state services and benefits. The new platform emphasizes accessibility and consistent navigation across agencies as part of a broader effort to modernize Maryland's digital infrastructure. Governor Moore announced the launch of a redesigned Maryland.gov, positioning the State’s website as a streamlined “digital front door” for accessing public benefits, services, and government resources. The new site reflects the administration’s broader effort to improve customer…

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January 7, 2026

2026 MACo Issue Previews / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources

2026 Issue Preview: Hospital Rate Setting and the AHEAD Model

With the 2026 Legislative Session approaching, MACo is profiling major issues, including hospital rate setting in Maryland, that are likely to receive significant attention. Maryland has long stood apart in how it pays for and provides health care. Its unique all-payer system for setting hospital rates, improved through the state’s Total Cost of Care model, has kept costs down, led to better results, and garnered national attention as a model to follow. As previously covered…

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December 31, 2025

2026 MACo Issue Previews / Business Affairs / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor

2026 Issue Preview: Unemployment Insurance

With the 2026 Legislative Session approaching, MACo is profiling major issues, including unemployment insurance, that stand to garner significant attention. Maryland’s Unemployment Insurance system remains solvent for now, but projections show that stability may be short-lived. As previously covered in a MACo deep dive, the federal-state unemployment insurance (UI) system offers temporary financial support to individuals who have lost their jobs, helping to replace a portion of their income while they search for new employment.…

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December 26, 2025

County Budgets / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: Strategies for Prescription Drug Spending

Prescription drug costs are no longer a back-office benefits issue for counties; they’re a frontline challenge shaping budgets, workforce retention, and long-term sustainability. Counties across Maryland are facing a familiar but intensifying challenge: how to sustain high-quality employee health benefits as prescription drug costs continue to climb. At MACo’s Winter Conference, the panel “Rx for Retention: County Strategies for Prescription Drug Spending” brought together county leaders, policy experts, and benefit consultants to unpack what’s driving…

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December 18, 2025