VICTORIES
Minimum Wage
Defeated multiple bills aimed at increasing Maryland’s minimum wage during the 2017 legislative session.
Expanded Sales Tax
Successfully fought the expanded sales tax on labor and most services.
Mandated Paid Sick Leave
The paid sick leave mandate was defeated in 2015 and 2016.
Manufacturing Initiative
The More Jobs for Marylanders Act allows for expanded income and property tax credits for all Maryland manufacturers.
Estate Tax
NFIB continues to be a leading force in the elimination of the Maryland estate tax, resulting in:
- The passage of a bill that will increase the estate tax threshold, from the current $1 million, up to a match of the federal estate tax exemption of $5.34 million
- This increase will take place gradually over time and fully lock in by January 2019
CHALLENGES
Mandatory Paid Sick Leave
The General Assembly passed legislation requiring businesses to offer at least five days of leave for their employees. Employers with 15 or more employees must offer paid leave while those with less than 15 employees would have to provide unpaid leave. This bill places considerable regulatory burdens on the state’s business community. NFIB has asked Governor Hogan to veto the bill.
Predictive Scheduling
NFIB strongly opposes a proposal placing restrictions on how employers handle scheduling employees. Legislation penalizing employers for adjusting their employees’ work schedules will be back next year. The bill will require employers to post employee work schedules three weeks in advance. Any changes made within the 21-day window would force employers to pay their employees their hourly wage.
Minimum Wage
Proponents of increasing the minimum wage will be back asking employers to absorb another wage increase on the heels of the latest pay hike. They will also ask legislators to tie the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index, meaning the minimum wage will continually increase never letting small business owners a moment’s rest from increased labor costs.
