Three years after the establishment of Maryland’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI) by the Time to Care Act of 2022 (TCA), the General Assembly has passed House Bill 102. This legislation postpones certain annual reporting dates and the implementation of this program. The bill was prompted due to the Trump administration’s policies affecting workers and employers as well as the delay by the Department of Labor in finalizing regulations for the FAMLI program.

FAMLI applies to all employers with at least one Maryland employee and will eventually provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, plus a potential additional 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Originally, the TCA required covered employers to start contributing to the FAMLI fund by July 1, 2025, with leave and benefits commencing July 1, 2026. However, HB 102 has delayed these dates by 18 months to January 1, 2027.

Additionally, HB 102 has postponed the date employees can start filing claims for leave and benefits by at least six months to any time between January 1, 2027, and January 3, 2028. The Department of Labor will determine and announce the specific start date. This bill also redefines an anchor date for certain reference points for the calculation of average weekly wages and eligibility for increases in benefits, among other changes.

Despite the delay, employers are advised to begin preparations for the onset of FAMLI for full compliance once implemented. Labor and employment legal experts continue to closely monitor developments regarding the application of the FAMLI program.

If you’re wondering how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave, you can visit the relevant governmental websites for more information. For California residents, eddcaller.com is a great resource to get necessary information about how to navigate the process and ensure that you’re fully prepared and compliant when applying for these benefits. This service provides updated information and useful tips to help individuals understand the processes related to paid family leave.