The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on employee benefits and relations policy in the 2026 General Assembly session. County governments are major public employers, responsible for managing a diverse workforce that delivers critical public services. To this extent, MACo advocates to ensure that state employment laws are fair, balanced, and workable for public sector employers, particularly when proposals uniquely or disproportionately affect government operations or essential personnel. During Maryland's 448th legislative…

On March 10, Associate Policy Director Karrington Anderson submitted written testimony to the Finance Committee in opposition to SB 90 – Workers' Compensation - Occupational Disease Presumptions - Hypertension.  This bill would significantly expand existing workers’ compensation presumptions for paid firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics diagnosed with hypertension. Specifically, the legislation would presume not only that the condition is work-related, but also that it results in disablement, eliminating the need to demonstrate an inability to perform…

On March 5, Associate Policy Director testified before the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in opposition to HB 1356 - Labor and Employment - Civic and Related Activities - Protection (Maryland Employee Civic Activity and Lawful Expression Protection Act).  This bill imposes unreasonable restrictions on counties as employers by prohibiting adverse action against any employee who engages in broadly defined “political activity,” “civic activity,” or “lawful expression.” While counties support employees’ constitutional rights to free…

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…