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MarylandHB 14242025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Support and Protections for Individuals Affected by Federal Actions (Protect Our Federal Workers Act)

Sponsored By: J. Lewis

Signed by Governor

State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsAppropriationsAttorney GeneralBudgets -see also- Capital BudgetsCivil Rights and Social EquityCommittees and CommissionsConsumer ProtectionData -see also- Census; DemographicsDisclosureEmergency BillsEmergencies -see also- PandemicsFederal GovernmentFraud -see also- ForgeryGeneral Assembly -see also- AELR Cmte; LegislativePolCmteGovernorHealth -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc.Human Rights -see also- Civil Rights and Social EquityImmigrants and Citizenship -see also- ResidencyIntergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc.Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd InvestInvestments -see also- SecuritiesLabor, Department ofLoans -see also- Credit; Mortgages; Scholarships&SFAMortgagesNatural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc.NoticesPublic Employees -see also- State EmployeesRecords -see also- Land Records; Vital RecordsReportsResidency -see also- Immigrants and CitizenshipRetirement -see also- Mandatory RetirementRevenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax)Safety -see also- Occupational SafetySalaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. RatesScholarships and Student Financial AidState EmployeesStudies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; ReportsSunsetUnemploymentWork, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Faster state hiring for former federal workers

The law creates a faster hiring program for Maryland State Personnel Management System vacancies, starting with critical and hard-to-fill jobs. Applicants must have left federal service after January 15, 2025, and have experience relevant to the job. Federal service includes probationary work; applicants must certify their service and provide proof when asked. Hiring officials using the program must aim to finish recruitment within 40 days; a job is not guaranteed. The program matches state job descriptions with federal equivalents without substantive classification changes and can refer applicants to other vacancies. Maryland may add former federal contractors by regulation and hire implementation help when funds are available. The program runs from April 22, 2025, through April 30, 2026, then ends automatically.

No-interest loans for Maryland federal workers

Maryland residents can get no-interest loans through the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund. Current federal workers must be required to work without pay during a shutdown caused by a funding lapse after January 1, 2025. Former workers must have been terminated on or after January 1, 2025, within six months before applying. Their job loss must result from a federal unit closing, moving, mass layoffs, or similar events beyond their control. Maryland’s Department of Labor must find financial hardship for former workers and may set additional criteria. The department sets application and repayment rules and may forgive some or all of a loan; forgiveness is not guaranteed.

Hardship funding for former federal workers

Maryland’s Catastrophic Event Account may help former federal workers facing hardship after federal closures, relocations, mass layoffs, or similar events. Existing appropriations must be unable to address that hardship. The account may also cover related state and local government costs, but not routine state program shortfalls. After legislative committee review, the Governor may transfer money to spending accounts or, during a federal shutdown, the worker loan fund. Unspent money and investment earnings stay in the account. The law sets no individual payment amount or guaranteed right to aid.

Stronger legal tools against harmful federal actions

Maryland’s Attorney General may investigate and bring or defend civil or criminal cases over federal actions or inaction threatening residents’ welfare. This includes unpaid federal workers, certain federal job separations, and residents allegedly denied earned federal benefits. The authority also covers threats to health, safety, civil liberties, economic security, pensions, and protections against fraud. Before starting a case, the Attorney General generally must notify the Governor and allow review and comment. The Governor has 10 days to provide written objections, which the Attorney General must consider; emergencies allow notice afterward as soon as reasonably practicable. The Governor’s proposed budget must include at least $2.5 million annually for this legal work and attorneys, up from $1 million. The law removes the requirement to fund five attorneys and does not create a direct household payment.

More sharing of worker loan information

Beginning April 22, 2025, Maryland may share tax information with its Department of Labor for the worker loan fund. Sharing must be necessary to run the fund, prevent fraudulent claims, or detect and prevent avoidance of required repayment. The department may also share applicant information with outside vendors only to verify federal employment, subject to privacy considerations. These powers support loan checks but allow more sharing of private information; they do not change eligibility or repayment duties. Separate tax-disclosure permissions also cover the Maryland Cannabis Administration and organizations or people helping the Comptroller with tax compliance.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • J. Lewis

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Gabriel Acevero

    Democratic • House

  • Nick Allen

    Democratic • House

  • Marlon Amprey

    Democratic • House

  • Ben Barnes

    Democratic • House

  • Dylan Behler

    Democratic • House

  • Adrian Boafo

    Democratic • House

  • Jon S. Cardin

    Democratic • House

  • Mark S. Chang

    Democratic • House

  • Lorig Charkoudian

    Democratic • House

  • Luke Clippinger

    Democratic • House

  • Dana Jones

    Democratic • House

  • Mark Edelson

    Democratic • House

  • Kris Fair

    Democratic • House

  • Jessica Feldmark

    Democratic • House

  • Linda Foley

    Democratic • House

  • Catherine M. Forbes

    Democratic • House

  • Pam Lanman Guzzone

    Democratic • House

  • Harris

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Andrea Fletcher Harrison

    Democratic • House

  • Anne Healey

    Democratic • House

  • Marvin E. Holmes

    Democratic • House

  • Julian Ivey

    Democratic • House

  • Aaron M. Kaufman

    Democratic • House

  • Marc Korman

    Democratic • House

  • Aletheia McCaskill

    Democratic • House

  • Bernice Mireku-North

    Democratic • House

  • David Moon

    Democratic • House

  • Julie Palakovich Carr

    Democratic • House

  • Cheryl E. Pasteur

    Democratic • House

  • Andrew C. Pruski

    Democratic • House

  • Robbyn Lewis

    Democratic • House

  • Denise Roberts

    Democratic • House

  • Malcolm P. Ruff

    Democratic • House

  • Matthew J. Schindler

    Democratic • House

  • Emily Shetty

    Democratic • House

  • Gary Simmons

    Democratic • House

  • Jared Solomon

    Democratic • House

  • Ryan Spiegel

    Democratic • House

  • Dana Stein

    Democratic • House

  • Vaughn Stewart

    Democratic • House

  • Jen Terrasa

    Democratic • House

  • Karen Toles

    Democratic • House

  • Kriselda Valderrama

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Vogel

    Democratic • House

  • Courtney Watson

    Democratic • House

  • Melissa Wells

    Democratic • House

  • Jennifer White Holland

    Democratic • House

  • Nicole A. Williams

    Democratic • House

  • Sarah Wolek

    Democratic • House

  • Natalie Ziegler

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 314 • No: 192

Senate vote • 4/7/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 33 • No: 13 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 4/7/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 34 • No: 13

House vote • 4/7/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 105 • No: 33 • Other: 3

House vote • 3/11/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 103 • No: 36 • Other: 1

House vote • 3/5/2025

Floor Amendment {883624/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected

Yes: 39 • No: 97

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 97

    4/22/2025

  2. Passed Enrolled

    4/7/2025House

  3. Third Reading Passed (33-13)

    4/7/2025Senate

  4. Conference Committee Report {403420/1 Adopted

    4/7/2025Senate

  5. Third Reading Passed (105-33)

    4/7/2025House

  6. Conference Committee Report {403420/1 Adopted

    4/7/2025House

  7. Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Guzzone, Rosapepe and Jennings)

    4/7/2025House

  8. Senate Refuses Recede

    4/7/2025House

  9. Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Guzzone, Rosapepe and Jennings)

    4/7/2025Senate

  10. Senate Refuses Recede

    4/7/2025Senate

  11. House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Barnes, J. Lewis and Ivey)

    4/7/2025Senate

  12. House Requests Senate Recede

    4/7/2025Senate

  13. House Refuses Concur Senate Amendments

    4/7/2025Senate

  14. House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Barnes, J. Lewis and Ivey)

    4/7/2025House

  15. House Requests Senate Recede

    4/7/2025House

  16. House Refuses Concur Senate Amendments

    4/7/2025House

  17. Third Reading Passed (34-13)

    4/7/2025Senate

  18. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    4/5/2025Senate

  19. Favorable with Amendments {383121/1 Adopted

    4/5/2025Senate

  20. Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

    4/5/2025Senate

  21. Hearing 3/27 at 1:00 p.m.

    3/24/2025Senate

  22. Referred Budget and Taxation

    3/12/2025Senate

  23. Third Reading Passed (103-36)

    3/11/2025House

  24. Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate Ghrist) Adopted

    3/11/2025House

  25. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    3/5/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enacted

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    4/7/2025

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    3/5/2025

    PDF

  • First Reading

    2/7/2025

    PDF

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