Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB536: Employment Discrimination - Reasonable Accommodations - Disabilities Due to Childbirth, Menopause, and Related Medical Conditions
Status: In committee, March 20, 2026
Expanding certain protections against employment discrimination to apply to temporary disabilities caused or contributed to by childbirth, menopause, or a related medical condition; and authorizing an employer to consider the operational impact of any staffing gap in determining an undue burden imposed by a certain transfer request by an employee.
What the bill says
From the chaptered text, March 4, 2026:
HB0536/223427/1 BY: Delegate Rose AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 536, AS AMENDED (First Reading File Bill) AMENDMENT NO. 1 On page 1, in line 6, after "condition;" insert "authorizing an employer to consider a certain operational impact in determining an undue burden imposed by a certain transfer request by an employee;". AMENDMENT NO. 2 On page 3, in line 1, after "(e)" insert "(1)"; in lines 4 and 7, strike "(1)" and "(2)", respectively, and substitute "(I)" and "(II)", respectively; in lines 9, 11, 12, and 14, strike "(i)", "(ii)", "(iii)", and "(iv)", respectively, and substitute "1.", "2.", "3.", and "4.", respectively; and after line 14, insert: "(2) TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN UNDUE BURDEN IS IMPOSED BY A TRANSFER REQUEST BY AN EMPLOYEE UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION, AN EMPLOYER MAY CONSIDER THE OPERATIONAL IMPACT OF ANY STAFFING GAP CREATED BY THE TRANSFER, INCLUDING: (I) THE AVAILABILITY OF OTHER PERSONNEL TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEE; AND (II) THE COST AND FEASIBILITY OF TEMPORARY COVERAGE.".
Sponsors
- Stephanie Smith (D, 45) · primary sponsor
- Marlon Amprey (D, 40)
- Regina Boyce (D, HD-043)
- Coley, Derrick (D, 24)
- Elizabeth Embry (D, 43A)
- Terri Hill (D, HD-012)
- Robbyn Lewis (D, 46)
- Courtney Watson (D, 9B)
Latest actions
- : Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m.
- : Referred Judicial Proceedings
- : Third Reading Passed (105-19)
- : Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- : Floor Amendment {223427/1 (Delegate Rose) Adopted
- : Motion Special Order until 03/04 (Delegate Rose) Adopted
- : Favorable with Amendments {523826/1 Adopted
- : Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
- : Hearing 2/12 at 2:00 p.m.
- : First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections
Votes
- Third Reading Passed (105-19) (March 5, 2026): 105 yea, 19 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB536?
- HB536 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Employment Discrimination - Reasonable Accommodations - Disabilities Due to Childbirth, Menopause, and Related Medical Conditions.
- What does HB536 do?
- Expanding certain protections against employment discrimination to apply to temporary disabilities caused or contributed to by childbirth, menopause, or a related medical condition; and authorizing an employer to consider the operational impact of any staffing gap in determining an undue burden imposed by a certain transfer request by an employee.
- What is the status of HB536?
- In committee as of March 20, 2026. Latest action: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (March 20, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB536?
- Stephanie Smith (D, 45), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB536?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0536?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.