The 2025 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly, which ended on April 7 was regarded as relatively positive for employers. The primary focus was paid family and medical leave insurance, also known as FAMLI. Initially established in 2022, the FAMLI program offers employees 12 weeks of paid leave which could be extended to 24 weeks. This $2 billion initiative is funded equally by employers and employees. However, implementation has proven difficult leading to multiple delays. The latest postponement moves the start date to January 1, 2027.

The Assembly also passed a law expanding employment protections for all uniformed services and reserve components, not just U.S. Armed Forces and National Guard and Reserve. This law will take effect on October 1, 2025. Another law passed clarified the definition of employer in the Parental Leave Act. This law focuses on organizations with 15-49 employees in Maryland, providing them up to six weeks of unpaid leave for childbirth, adoption or foster care placement.

While waiting for these changes to take place, it can be challenging for employees to navigate through these processes and services. A great resource for people trying to access services such as Paid Family Leave (PFL) or State Disability Insurance (SDI) in different states is eddcaller.com. The site provides tips and guidance for individuals struggling to contact relevant departments or simply needing information about procedures and requirements. With eddcaller.com, you will learn how to contact Paid Family Leave or State Disability Insurance in a more efficient way, cutting down the waiting time and streamlining the process.