Articles

Employment Law Update: Maryland DOL Issues Proposed Regulations for Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program

Date: October 22, 2025
With the passage of the Time to Care Act in 2022, Maryland’s General Assembly set the stage for the state’s implementation of a paid family and medical leave program. Employees who need to miss work for a qualifying reason will be able to submit a claim for benefits and recoup a portion of the wages they would have otherwise earned but for the covered leave. The path to the program’s implementation has been a rocky one, with three delays in the timetable for when benefits will become available to employees. As of this writing, payroll tax contributions to fund the program are set to commence on January 1, 2027, with benefits for employees becoming available on January 3, 2028. 

On October 17, 2025, the Maryland Department of Labor issued a series of proposed regulations that shed additional light on the details of the program. The proposed regulations, which are subject to a 30-day comment period after publication, include definitions, a list of template forms to be developed for use, and rules governing private insurance plans in which employers may participate as an alternative to the state-administered program.
 
The proposed regulations state that employers will be required to create and maintain an online account to submit required reports and to remit contribution payments as required by the law. The proposed regulations detail procedures for employees to appeal decisions denying benefits and for employers to dispute determinations regarding contributions owed. 
 
These proposed regulations confirm that the state’s family and medical leave insurance program will soon be a reality. Whiteford’s Employment Law team will continue to monitor further developments concerning the program and is available to assist with questions and compliance matters.
The information contained here is not intended to provide legal advice or opinion and should not be acted upon without consulting an attorney. Counsel should not be selected based on advertising materials, and we recommend that you conduct further investigation when seeking legal representation.