# Maryland SB 0417: Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)

Maryland SB 0417, Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Clarence K. Lam (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 221) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0417-2026RS
- 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 0417
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-29
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 221
- Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Private Sector Labor and Industry, Communications -see also- ElecComm; Intergov; etc., Complaints, Elections, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Meetings -see also- Hearings; Open Government, Notices, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Petitions, Political Parties, Public Information, Religion -see also- Places of Worship, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (127 yes, 49 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Maryland workers can refuse political workplace meetings: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland employers cannot punish or threaten workers for refusing employer-sponsored meetings that share the employer’s religious or political views. Workers can refuse to attend, participate, or listen; applicants cannot be denied hiring for refusing to attend or partici…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-08 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 96 | 37 | 3 |
| 2026-03-23 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 31 | 12 |   |

## Actions (19)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 221
- 2026-04-10: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (96-37) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-02: Motion Special Order until 04/03 (Delegate Buckel) Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (31-12) (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Floor Amendment {743126/1 (Senator Gallion) Rejected (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Motion Laid Over (Senator Gallion) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Floor Amendment {743126/1 (Senator Gallion) (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Motion Special Order until Next Session (Senator West) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Favorable (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: First Reading Finance (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_221_sb0417t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0417t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-29: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0417f.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_221_sb0417t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0417t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0417f.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)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0417-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).