All Roll Calls
Yes: 166 • No: 8
MarylandSB 04452026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Employment Standards - Firefighters - Payment of Wages and Payroll Information
Sponsored By: Benjamin F. Kramer (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Private Sector Labor and IndustryCounties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties; etc.Fire ProtectionMunicipal Corporations -see also- Annap; BaltRecords -see also- Land Records; Vital RecordsSalaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. RatesStandards and Best PracticesTimeWork, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Pay notices and penalties for firefighters
Beginning 2028-10-01, counties and cities must give firefighters a written notice of base pay, pay periods, and overtime rate at hire and when pay changes. Each pay period, they must give a statement with hours worked, gross pay, and deductions. If pay or required info is missing, you or your union can file a grievance. Unless there is a bona fide dispute, you get the missing wages plus damages. Damages start only after at least one regular pay period has passed. If you file within the first 3 business days of a pay period, damages start the next regular pay period. If you file after the third business day, damages start in the second regular pay period after the unpaid pay period. Damages grow by 30% of the missing wage each pay period and are capped at three times the missing wage.
Overtime rules for local firefighters
Beginning 2028-10-01, counties and cities count overtime for firefighters on each hour over 168 in a 28-day period. The law treats the county or city as your employer for this rule. All regularly scheduled hours count toward the 168 hours. If you use earned or accrued leave, the employer does not have to count more than 42 leave hours per week toward overtime. A county or city is not in violation if it pays overtime using an average of no more than 42 hours per week over a 7–28 day work period, or if a firefighter union contract defines a 42-hour shift.
Existing firefighter union contracts stay in place
The law applies only going forward. It does not change firefighter collective bargaining agreements that were in effect before 2028-10-01. Those agreements keep their terms until they expire or are renegotiated.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Benjamin F. Kramer
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/8/2026
Third Reading Passed
Yes: 124 • No: 5 • Other: 12
Senate vote • 3/19/2026
Third Reading Passed
Yes: 42 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 181
4/28/2026Returned Passed
4/9/2026SenateThird Reading Passed (124-5)
4/8/2026HouseFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
4/3/2026HouseFavorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
4/3/2026HouseReferred Government, Labor, and Elections
3/20/2026HouseThird Reading Passed (42-3)
3/19/2026SenateSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
3/17/2026SenateFavorable with Amendments {413020/1 Adopted
3/17/2026SenateFavorable with Amendments Report by Finance
3/16/2026SenateHearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
2/4/2026SenateFirst Reading Finance
2/2/2026Senate
Bill Text
Third Reading
3/17/2026
First Reading
2/2/2026
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