# Maryland HB 0233: Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)

Maryland HB 0233, Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act), is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joe Vogel (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-26 (Referred Finance) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0233-2025RS
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0233
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-10-01
- Last action: 2025-02-26, Referred Finance
- Sponsor: Joe Vogel (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Subjects: Private Sector Labor and Industry, Civic Organizations, Elections, Meetings -see also- Hearings; Open Government, Political Parties, Recruitment and Hiring, Religion -see also- Places of Worship, Termination of Employment, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc., Workplace Retaliation
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (94 yes, 37 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Joe Vogel (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Linda Foley (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Aaron M. Kaufman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Cheryl E. Pasteur (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jen Terrasa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Greg Wims (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Teresa Woorman (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-25 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 94 | 37 | 2 |

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-26: Referred Finance (Senate)
- 2025-02-25: Third Reading Passed (94-37) (House)
- 2025-02-20: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2025-02-19: Favorable Report by Economic Matters (House)
- 2025-01-08: Hearing 1/30 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2025-01-08: First Reading Economic Matters (House)
- 2024-10-01: Pre-filed (House)

## Bill text

- Third Reading, 2025-02-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0233t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2025-01-08: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0233f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed)
- HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed)
- HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization (became law)
- HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (signed)

## Sources
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0233t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0233f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS)
- [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS)
- [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS)
- [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS)
- [HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1294-2025RS)
- [HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0228-2025RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0233-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).