Maryland Clarifies Parental Leave Law: FMLA-Covered Employers Now Exempt
Takeaways: Starting October 1, 2025, Maryland employers who are covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are no longer required to comply with the state’s unpaid parental leave law. Senate Bill 785 changes the definition of “employer” under Maryland’s Parental Leave Act to exclude those already covered by FMLA, even if they have between 15 and 49 employees . Because both laws determine coverage based on employee counts over a 20-week period in the current or previous year , some employers may qualify for FMLA even if they currently have fewer than 50 employees—making them exempt from the state law under the new rule. Effective October 1, 2025, Maryland employers covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) will no longer be subject to the state’s unpaid parental leave requirements. Senate Bill 785, sponsored by Senator Justin Ready, was passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Wes Moore on May...