Employment & Worker Protection · Maryland
Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act
SB 275 / HB 8 - enacted in Maryland.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2022
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 48/100
- Maryland strictness
The bottom line
Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act is an enacted law in Maryland, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2026-07-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 48/100
- Maryland strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Maryland legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act
Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act (SB 275 / HB 8) is an enacted law in Maryland under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2022-04-09 and becomes effective on 2026-07-01. Maryland currently reports 3 tracked regulations with 3 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 48/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Maryland within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in SB 275 / HB 8 itself.
Applicability under Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act: TIME: employers 15+ employees. Sick: all employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: Dept of Labor enforcement for both programs. Notable exemptions: Federal, certain union employees..
Summary
Maryland TIME Act: 12 weeks paid family/medical leave starting 2026. Healthy Working Families: paid sick 40 hrs/year for employers 15+.
Key Requirements
TIME: 12 weeks at 90% wages (2026). Premiums: 0.9% total. Sick: 40 hrs/year (employers 15+; 40 hrs unpaid for smaller).
Penalties
Dept of Labor enforcement for both programs.
Applicability
TIME: employers 15+ employees. Sick: all employers.
Exemptions
Federal, certain union employees.
Official Source
https://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wages/wagepaidleave.shtmlHow Maryland compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Maryland ranks #14 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Maryland is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act enacted?
Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act was enacted on 2022-04-09 and became effective on 2026-07-01. It was introduced as SB 275 / HB 8.
What are the penalties for violating Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act?
Dept of Labor enforcement for both programs. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act apply to small businesses?
TIME: employers 15+ employees. Sick: all employers. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Maryland compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Maryland has a regulatory strictness score of 48/100, based on 3 enacted regulations out of 3 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act?
The official text of Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act (SB 275 / HB 8) is available from the Maryland legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Maryland Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Maryland TIME Act (Family/Medical Leave) + Healthy Working Families Act is enacted in Maryland, effective 2026-07-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Maryland ranks #14 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Maryland tracks across all five policy areas. Maryland profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Maryland source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.