Denise Riley, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs
Sine Die marked the conclusion of a challenging 2026 legislative session. Leadership changes in the House of Delegates, including a new Speaker, shifts in committee chairs, and the creation of the House Government, Labor and Elections Committee, caused people to scramble and quickly adjust their strategies to move their bills. In addition, a projected billion-dollar state budget shortfall prompted legislators and lobbyists to amend bills to reduce their fiscal impact.
Despite these challenges, AFT Maryland did well in the legislative session. The federation and its affiliates supported over 30 bills, the majority of which were successfully enacted, and all the ones we opposed were defeated.
AFT Maryland’s priority bill passed, SB 6 / HB 106 State Personnel – Collective Bargaining – Nontenure Track Faculty. It expands collective bargaining rights to nontenure-track faculty in the state’s public higher education system. The legislation applies to faculty at Maryland’s public four-year institutions including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Sen. Ben Kramer and Del. Linda Foley are the sponsors.
AFT Maryland’s affiliate unions, that represent first responders and correctional officers, did well in this session with several bills including:
SB 148 / HB 13 - Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act, allows retired 9-1-1 specialists who are at least 55 years old to claim a tax credit against their State income tax on their pension earned through their service. Under the amended terms, the credit is calculated as 4.75% of the first $15,000 of eligible retirement income, the benefit is capped at $700 per year. The bill was made possible by the hard work of Sen. Cheryl Kagan and Del. Joe Vogel.
SB 607 / HB 653 - Income Tax – Subtraction Modification for Public Safety Retirement Income – Amount, sponsored by Sen. McCray and Del. Dylan Behler, amends the Hometown Heroes’ Act to raise the existing subtraction modification from $15,000 to $20,000. The legislation phases it in gradually over a five-year period, adding $1,000 each year.
In addition, Sen. Jack Bailey and Del. Gary Simmons sponsored SB 101 / HB 1505 - Higher Education - Loan Repayment and Scholarships for Correctional Officers – this bill allows correctional officers to participate in both the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Police Officers and Probation Agents and the Maryland Police Officers and Probation Agents Scholarship Program – which makes them eligible to receive funds for repayment of student loans and to access scholarships for higher education.
Several education bills that help to keep our members and their schools safe passed including: Del. Linda Foley’s bill HB 14 - County Boards of Ed - Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation - Info Collection and Reporting Requirements, strengthens and expands the state’s existing data collection and reporting for school-based incidents to include identification of any actual or perceived characteristics such as race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or socioeconomic status, that may have motivated the incident. It also requires county boards of education to collect and report information on incidents and to make certain data publicly available on their websites.
HB 326 - Education - Maryland Center for School Safety - Anonymous Reporting System, sponsored by Del. Eric Ebersole, requires the Maryland Center for School Safety to develop and administer a statewide anonymous reporting system for school-related safety concerns. The system is designed to allow students, parents, school staff, and community members to confidentially report information related to potential threats, harmful behavior, or other safety issues affecting schools or students.
SB 720 / HB 1057 – Education - Artificial Intelligence - Guidelines, Professional Development, and Collaborative (Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act), establishes a framework for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in K–12 schools. The legislation requires the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to develop and maintain guidance, resources, and best practices on AI use through an online platform for educators, students, parents, and school systems. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Katie Fry Hester and Del. Ebersole also mandates that each local school system adopt policies governing AI use and designate a coordinator to oversee implementation and compliance.
The bill is coupled with Sen. Fry Hester’ SB 601 / HB 957 - Cybersecurity - Standards and Compliance – Alterations. It updates and strengthens cybersecurity requirements for Maryland’s public schools. The legislation requires each local school system to designate a person as a cybersecurity point of contact, formally certify compliance with the State’s standards, and conduct a cybersecurity assessment at least every two years. Del. Chao Wu was the crossfile in the House.
Other education bills that passed include the bi-partisan SB 262 / HB 478 - Income Tax - Subtraction Modification for Classroom Supplies Purchased by Teachers – Alteration, which expands an existing state income tax benefit to include prekindergarten teachers. Under the previous law, only full-time K-12 teachers could subtract up to $250 in unreimbursed expenses for classroom supplies from their Maryland taxable income. Sen. Bryan Simonaire and Del. Edith Patterson are the sponsors. And SB 403 / HB 358 - Sales and Use Tax - Elementary or Secondary School Book Fairs – Exemption, that exempts sales tax for in-person book fairs held in elementary or secondary schools when conducted by the school or affiliated nonprofit organization. Sen. Cory McCray and Del. Julie Palakovich Carr are the sponsors.
The ability for state employees to work part-time advanced with HB 1248 / SB 880 - Workgroup for an Inclusive State Workplace – Established, it creates a workgroup to develop a strategy to promote part-time state employment with benefits. It includes a pilot program within selected state agencies to evaluate and convert certain full-time roles into part-time positions. The workgroup must submit a strategy and implementation plan to the General Assembly by September 15, 2027. The bill is sponsored by Del. Sarah Wolek and Sen. Kramer.
AFT Maryland worked with our labor partner SEIU 1199 to pass HB 624 / SB 411 - Hospitals - Clinical Staffing Committees and Plans - Establishment (Safe Staffing Act of 2026). The legislation sponsored by Del. Jennifer White Holland and Sen. Malcolm Augustine, requires all licensed hospitals in Maryland to create and maintain clinical staffing committees composed of equal representation from hospital management and frontline clinical staff. These committees are responsible for the development of staffing plans that account for patient needs, staffing levels, and for reviewing and updating the plans on an annual basis.
We were able to defeat bills as well, including one that could have cost the jobs of Hearing Examiners, represented by MPEC, in the State Parole Commission. Another bill would have rolled back the negotiated Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) for State employees. A bill to take away the gains for the community in selecting the members of the Baltimore City schools’ Board of Commissioners was stopped in the House. And many thanks to Sec. Portia Wu and the Department of Labor for their help in defeating a bill that would have watered down the Heat Stress Standards that we have worked on for years.
Throughout the 90-day session, AFT Maryland maintained an active presence, testifying in over 30 bill and budget hearings and submitting more than 70 pieces of written testimony. We thank the affiliates for their own testimony, information and support. In addition, thank you to all leadership, staff and members who participated in our Lobby Night, Legislative Reception, and the annual Labor Rally. You all helped AFT Maryland to stand out as a strong presence in Annapolis and in the State.
Denise Riley, Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs
AFT Maryland, April 2026