Read more about the article #MACoCon Recap: Balancing Public Safety and Employee Rights in the Cannabis Era
Cannabis / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Summer Conference
#MACoCon Recap: Balancing Public Safety and Employee Rights in the Cannabis Era

Since the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Maryland, the conversation around workplace policies has only intensified, especially for public sector employers managing safety-sensitive roles. At MACo’s Summer Conference, a panel of human resources, legal, labor, and public safety leaders unpacked the complex and often conflicting forces shaping local government policy in this evolving space. Tom Coe, Fire Chief for Frederick County’s Division of Fire and Rescue Services, opened with a reality check on what cannabis…

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August 20, 2025
Read more about the article New Faces, New Forces: Leveraging Untapped Talent at #MACoCon
Human Resources / Labor / Summer Conference
New Faces, New Forces: Leveraging Untapped Talent at #MACoCon

In today’s economic environment, county governments are pivotal in driving local economic growth and workforce development. In particular, finding the right candidate for a specific role takes an even more dynamic strategy to reach untapped talent. Successfully navigating the complexities of intentionally leveraging certain areas of the workforce can foster a resilient local economy and increase stability and independence for residents. The below 2025 MACo Summer Conference session hosts an expert panel to share best…

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August 4, 2025
Read more about the article Up in Smoke? Balancing Public Safety and Employee Rights in the Cannabis Era 
Cannabis / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor / Summer Conference
Up in Smoke? Balancing Public Safety and Employee Rights in the Cannabis Era 

As legal cannabis use becomes more common, local governments are caught navigating evolving workplace rights and public safety responsibilities. With no clear test for impairment and increasing legislative pressure, counties must find a path forward that protects both their workforce and their communities. Since Maryland voters approved adult-use cannabis legalization in 2022 and retail sales launched in 2023, the implications for employers, especially public sector employers, have rapidly evolved. While cannabis use is now legal…

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August 4, 2025
Read more about the article Drug Affordability Board Finds First Two Meds May Be Too Costly
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources
Drug Affordability Board Finds First Two Meds May Be Too Costly

Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) just took a major step toward reining in the rising cost of prescription drugs. With two widely used drugs now flagged as affordability challenges, the state is laying the groundwork for cost-cutting measures that could affect budgets and benefit plans alike. In an effort to tackle the high cost of prescription drugs, Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) has unanimously determined that two common Type 2 diabetes medications, Jardiance…

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July 30, 2025
Read more about the article Trust, Invest, Repeat. Tackling Retiree Health Care Costs
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Finance and Procurement / Human Resources / Policy Deep Dive
Trust, Invest, Repeat. Tackling Retiree Health Care Costs

The MACo OPEB Investment Trust - designed to help counties put current assets to work toward long-term health care liabilities - is performing well, delivering healthy returns, and serving member needs. It recently topped $100m in total assets -- all "put to work" through active investment for a stronger long term return than would be allowable without the Trust infrastructure. The Board of Trustees of the MACo OPEB Investment Trust recently convened a quarterly meeting…

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July 30, 2025
Read more about the article Missouri Repeals Paid Sick Leave Law
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources / Labor
Missouri Repeals Paid Sick Leave Law

In a reversal of a voter-approved measure, Missouri Governor signed legislation repealing the state’s earned paid sick leave law. The new law, effective August 28, 2025, rolls back provisions approved under Proposition A in 2024. As covered in a Littler article, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe recently signed legislation undoing two voter-approved labor policies: a statewide paid sick leave mandate and automatic inflation-based minimum wage increases. Local governments were exempt from the original paid sick leave…

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July 23, 2025
Read more about the article MD Unemployment Insurance Fund Faces Challenges
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor
MD Unemployment Insurance Fund Faces Challenges

Maryland’s unemployment insurance trust fund is currently stable. However, the system could fall below federal solvency standards within the next two years. As reported in a Maryland Matters article, Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu warned lawmakers that the state’s $2 billion unemployment insurance trust fund is under increasing pressure at a recent Joint Committee on Unemployment Oversight hearing. While it currently meets federal solvency standards, that could change if unemployment rises or large-scale layoffs occur.…

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July 16, 2025
Read more about the article Free July 28 Webinar: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts
Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues
Free July 28 Webinar: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts

The National Association of Counties, through its Public Promise Insurance program, is hosting an informational webinar on prescription drugs and county healthcare costs. Register here for this July 28 online meeting. Webinar: Legislative Landscape: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts Wednesday, July 23, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET There is significant legislative activity at both the federal and state levels focused on prescription drug costs. These developments have important implications for employer-sponsored…

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July 16, 2025
Read more about the article State Rolls Out Voluntary Separation Program to Help Meet Budget Targets
Employee Benefits and Relations / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
State Rolls Out Voluntary Separation Program to Help Meet Budget Targets

Governor Wes Moore has authorized a new Voluntary Separation Program (VSP) for State employees, part of an effort to trim costs and meet the personnel savings required in the fiscal 2026 State budget. The program, launched on July 10, is available to eligible Executive Branch employees and offers a financial incentive for them to separate from State service voluntarily. The move comes in response to budget constraints passed by the General Assembly earlier this year,…

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July 15, 2025
Read more about the article Navigating Cannabis, Safety, and Compliance in the Workplace
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor / Summer Conference
Navigating Cannabis, Safety, and Compliance in the Workplace

As cannabis laws evolve, employers are facing new challenges in balancing safety, federal obligations, and employee rights. Minnesota’s latest law raises the stakes by requiring greater legal justification before taking employment action. According to a Forbes article, Minnesota passed a bill that recently went into effect, strengthening protections for registered medical cannabis patients in the workplace. Employers must now give these employees 14 days’ written notice before taking any adverse action based on a positive…

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July 7, 2025
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