# Maryland SB 0439: Employment Discrimination - Fire and Rescue Public Safety Employees - Use of Medical Cannabis

Maryland SB 0439, Employment Discrimination - Fire and Rescue Public Safety Employees - Use of Medical Cannabis, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Carl Jackson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 183) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0439-2026RS
- 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 0439
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Employment Discrimination - Fire and Rescue Public Safety Employees - Use of Medical Cannabis
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-30
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 183
- Sponsor: Carl Jackson (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Human Relations, Cannabis, Public Safety, Cannabis -see also- CannDist; CannProd; Smok&Vap, Certifications, Chemical Tests, Counties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties; etc., Discipline, Discrimination, Emergency Medical Services -see also- Ambul; RescSqd, Fire Protection, Municipal Corporations -see also- Annap; Balt, Public Employees -see also- State Employees, Rescue Squads -see also- Emergency Medical Serv, State Employees, Termination of Employment, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (141 yes, 34 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Medical cannabis job protections for rescue workers: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland protects covered firefighters, emergency medical technicians, cardiac rescue technicians, and paramedics with valid medical cannabis certifications. Covered employers include municipalities, counties, the State, the State Airport Authority, and fire control distr…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Carl Jackson (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 108 | 23 | 9 |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 33 | 11 | 1 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 183
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (108-23) (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-03-09: Referred Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-03-06: Third Reading Passed (33-11) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Motion Special Order until 3/6 (Senator Jennings) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: First Reading Finance (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_183_sb0439t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0439t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-30: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0439f.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_183_sb0439t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0439t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0439f.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)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0439-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).