Bill > HB824

This bill expands Maryland's Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program to include a new category of "alternatively qualified individuals" beginning July 1, 2027. An alternatively qualified individual is an employee or unemployed person who has earned at least $7,200 in total lifetime wages in the state, does not meet the standard requirements for program coverage, and is not receiving comparable benefits from another state. These individuals will be eligible to receive a one-time benefit payment during the application year to care for or bond with a child during the first year after birth or placement through foster care, kinship care, or adoption. Initially, the benefit will be $2,000, with future amounts to be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. Employers will be required to allow alternatively qualified individuals to take up to 6 weeks of unpaid leave when approved for benefits. The bill also adjusts the timeline for the Secretary of Labor's annual cost analysis of the program, moving the initial analysis to 2025 instead of 2026. The legislation aims to provide additional support for workers who might not qualify under the program's current strict eligibility requirements, particularly those with less consistent employment or lower wages.

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https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0824?ys=2025RS