Use our Family & Medical Leave Chart to understand your obligations under all local and State laws
The state of Maryland has been preparing to launch a new paid family and medical leave insurance program, known as FAMLI, that will provide the state’s workers with job protection and up to $1,000 per week for up to 12 weeks of leave. The application process was originally scheduled to begin this May, with insurance protections beginning July 1, 2026.
However, in anticipation of sweeping changes at the federal government level including severe workforce deductions, the Maryland Department of Labor is delaying the implementation of the program. The extension would provide employers and workers with additional time to prepare before launch. Under the new recommended plan, payroll deductions would begin Jan. 1, 2027, and benefits would become available on Jan. 1, 2028.
Major federal policymaking changes, such as tariffs and funding freezes, directly impact both public and private sector workers in the state, which has a significant number of government-funded projects. In 2023, for example, approximately 225,000 jobs in Maryland were directly supported by federal contract dollars.
Through the FAMLI program, employers and workers would make contributions into a fund administered by the state. Alternatively, an employer could apply to use a commercial or self-insured plan. Workers would use FAMLI to care for themselves or a family member, or to welcome a new child into their home, in cases of personal and/or medical need.
The timeline extension will require legislative action by the General Assembly in the coming weeks. For more information about FAMLI, visit paidleave.maryland.gov.