# Maryland SB 0028: Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026

Maryland SB 0028, Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Cory V. McCray (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor, assigned a chapter number, enactment subject to constitutional referendum - Chapter 156) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0028-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0028
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-09-24
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor, assigned a chapter number, enactment subject to constitutional referendum - Chapter 156
- Sponsor: Cory V. McCray (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Subjects: State Government - Personnel, Appropriations, Arbitration -see also- Mediation, Ballots -see also- Abs&MailInBallots; Abs&MailInVoting, Budgets -see also- Capital Budgets, Collective Bargaining, Constitutional Amendments, Elections, Environmental Service, Maryland, Governor, Higher Education -see also- Comm Colleges; Med Schools; etc., Legislation -see also- Correct Leg; Cur Leg; Emerg Bills, Mediation -see also- Arbitration, Prices -see also- Consumer Price Index, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, State Employees, State Universities and Colleges, Voting -see also- Absentee and Mail-In Voting
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (133 yes, 45 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Public worker talks get deadlines and help: benefit, low. Covered employers and unions must bargain in good faith between July 1 and September 30, aiming to start near July 1. Either side can request a neutral arbitrator starting July 1. If talks remain unresolved September 1, they must select one by September 15. These schedule and selection rules exclud…
- Governor must budget for public worker agreements: benefit, low. The Governor must include funding for all terms of covered employee agreements in each annual budget bill. This covers agreements with the State, covered state higher-education institutions, and the Maryland Environmental Service. The law also ties added budget and reporting requirements to Marylan…
- Fact-finding limited to public college bargaining: cost, low. The statutory fact-finder process applies only to state higher-education bargaining, including the University System of Maryland. It covers talks for the next fiscal year that have not concluded before October 25. Other bargaining talks do not qualify for this process.
- Public worker agreements continue, pensions excluded: mixed, medium. Covered public employers and unions must bargain over pay, hours, health benefits, other benefits, and working conditions. Pensions are excluded from the required bargaining topics. Existing employee agreements stay in force without changes while talks continue. They cannot expire until a replaceme…
- Public worker arbitration has budget limits: mixed, medium. Starting October 1, either side can declare stalled talks at an impasse and use binding arbitration. This process excludes state higher-education institutions, including the University System of Maryland. Each side generally submits its final offer within five business days; mediation comes before…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Cory V. McCray (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Malcolm Augustine (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Guy Guzzone (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Shelly Hettleman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nancy J. King (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Karen Lewis Young (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jim Rosapepe (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Craig J. Zucker (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 99 | 34 | 5 |
| 2026-03-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 34 | 11 |   |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor, assigned a chapter number, enactment subject to constitutional referendum - Chapter 156
- 2026-04-10: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (99-34) (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-03-26: Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-20: Referred Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-03-19: Third Reading Passed (34-11) (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Favorable with Amendments {873428/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Budget and Taxation) (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Budget and Taxation and Finance (Senate)
- 2025-09-24: Pre-filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_156_sb0028t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0028t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0028f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_156_sb0028t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0028t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0028f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0028-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).