On May 6, 2025, Gov. Moore signed SB 785 into law, resulting in a number of changes to the Maryland Parental Leave Act (PLA). Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland employers who are covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are no longer required to comply with the state’s unpaid parental leave law. The definition of “employer” under Maryland’s PLA will also be modified to exclude those already covered by the FMLA, even if they have between 15 and 49 employees.
The Maryland PLA requires employers with 15 to 49 employees in Maryland to provide eligible employees with up to six weeks of unpaid parental leave for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child. To qualify, employees must have worked for a covered employer for at least 12 months and logged 1,250 hours in the prior 12 months before leave.