Compliance Stuff

In its 2026 session, the Maryland General Assembly passed several significant pieces of legislation that, if enacted, will impact private employers in Maryland, including one that streamlines the process for bringing civil actions under county discrimination laws, several that bolster employee labor rights, and other bills that are more specific to a particular industry or public employees. 00:00 11:13 Quick Hits SB694  would establish that filing a complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights satisfies the administrative prerequisites for bringing a civil action under county discrimination laws. SB831 /HB1480 would establish new civil penalties for child labor violations, prohibit the formation of certain workplace groups to address working conditions, and conditionally create a private sector state labor board. SB417 /HB45 would prohibit employers from conducting mandatory meetings on religious or political matters, which includes union organizing matters (e.g., “captiv...

Takeaways Rhode Island became the 13th state banning mandatory “captive audience meetings.” Oregon and Washington will offer unemployment benefits to qualified striking workers starting 01.01.26. New York and other states are seeking to regulate private labor disputes while the Board lacks a quorum, raising federal preemption concerns. Related links Clear the Calendar: NLRB Restricts Captive Audience Meetings Acting General Counsel Statement on Potential State Legislation Regulating Private Sector Labor Relations  (press release) Article The National Labor Relations Board remains without a quorum, leaving key decisions and enforcement actions on hold. In the meantime, state legislatures across the country have introduced new labor laws that increase employer obligations — often in areas traditionally under federal oversight. These measures include bans on mandatory captive audience meetings, expanded unemployment benefits for striking workers, and broader jurisdiction for state lab...