# Maryland SB 0831: Labor Law - Child Labor Penalties, Private Sector Employee Labor Relations, and State Employee Labor Standards Maryland SB 0831, Labor Law - Child Labor Penalties, Private Sector Employee Labor Relations, and State Employee Labor Standards, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Bill Ferguson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 167) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0831-2026RS - 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 0831 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Labor Law - Child Labor Penalties, Private Sector Employee Labor Relations, and State Employee Labor Standards - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-06 - Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 167 - Sponsor: Bill Ferguson (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Private Sector Labor and Industry, Administrative Agencies, Arbitration -see also- Mediation, Certifications, Children (4-12), Civil Offenses, Collective Bargaining, Committees and Commissions, Ethics, Evaluations and Reviews, Federal Government, Labor, Department of, Labor and Industry, Division of, Legislative Services, Department of, Minors -see also- Age of Majority; Youth, Notices, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Petitions, Privacy, Public Information, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Standards and Best Practices, State Employees, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc. - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (141 yes, 36 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Limits on employer-controlled workplace groups: cost, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, Maryland employers cannot allow certain workplace groups that employers can dissolve on their own. The rule covers groups formed by mutual consent, where supervisors and employees address or negotiate working conditions. It applies only when federal action on or after Januar… - Worker bargaining rights and employer penalties: mixed, medium. Beginning June 1, 2026, covered Maryland private employees have rights to organize, join worker groups, and bargain through chosen representatives. State and local governments can limit these rights only for a compelling state need, using the least restrictive means. A state enforcement process act… - Stronger child protections and employer fines: mixed, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, Maryland’s Labor Commissioner can impose new civil fines to enforce child labor protections. Maximum fines are $16,035 per violation of Labor and Employment § 3-216(a) or (b). Willfully or repeatedly employing a minor in violation of § 3-213 carries a maximum fine of $72,… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Bill Ferguson (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-08 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 99 | 36 | 1 | | 2026-03-23 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 42 | 0 | 2 | ## Actions (13) - 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 167 - 2026-04-09: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (99-36) (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) - 2026-03-24: Referred Government, Labor, and Elections (House) - 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (42-0) (Senate) - 2026-03-23: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-23: Favorable with Amendments {343824/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-23: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-02-06: First Reading Finance (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_167_sb0831t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-23: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0831t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0831f.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_167_sb0831t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0831t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0831f.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-SB0831-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).