HB 233

Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)

Sponsor: Joe Vogel (District 17)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Private Sector Labor and IndustryStatus: First Reading Finance (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting employers from taking certain adverse actions against an employee or applicant for employment because the employee or applicant declines to attend or participate in employer-sponsored meetings during which the employer communicates the opinion of the employer regarding religious matters or political matters.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 19FavorableUNF 6Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	McMillan, Michael	Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300	Written (PDF)
FAV	Girardi, Matthewlobbyist	Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Position only
FAV	Carter, Roland	IBEW	Oral
FAV	Doyle, Thomas	International Brotherhood of Teamsters	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Meyer, Christopherlobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Position only
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Edwards, Donna	Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIO	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Zwerling, Samanthalobbyist	Maryland State Education Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Zhou, Lucy	Public Justice Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cavanagh, Terrencelobbyist	SEIU Local 500	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Goldstein, Mathew	Secular Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Phelps Jr, Ken	The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mock, Kaylalobbyist	UFCW 400	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Vogel, Delegate Vogellegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Jackson, Laura	Individual	Oral
FAV	Jasen, Debi	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Vogel, Joe	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Blum, Danna	Carroll County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Griffin, Andrewlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Rohrer, Amylobbyist	Maryland Hotel Lodging Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Thompson, Melvinlobbyist	Restaurant Association of Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	O'Halloran, Mike	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Wiggins, Grasonlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300FAV 1

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689FAV 1

Carroll County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

IBEWFAV 1

International Brotherhood of TeamstersFAV 1

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyFAV 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland Hotel Lodging AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIOFAV 1

Maryland State Education AssociationFAV 1

Public Justice CenterFAV 1

Restaurant Association of MarylandUNF 1

Secular MarylandFAV 1

SEIU Local 500FAV 1

The Episcopal Diocese of MarylandFAV 1

UFCW 400FAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVGirardi, MatthewAmalgamated Transit Union Local 689Registered for: Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689

FAVMeyer, ChristopherMaryland Center on Economic PolicyRegistered for: Maryland Center on Economic Policy

FAVZwerling, SamanthaMaryland State Education AssociationRegistered for: Maryland State Education Association

FAVCavanagh, TerrenceSEIU Local 500Registered for: SEIU Local 500; SEIU Maryland & DC State Council

FAVMock, KaylaUFCW 400Registered for: United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 400

UNFGriffin, AndrewMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Alliance to Prevent Legionnaire's Disease; American Subcontractors Association of Baltimore; Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park; Associated Utility Contractors of Maryland; Experience Prince George's; Howard County Chamber of Commerce…

UNFRohrer, AmyMaryland Hotel Lodging AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association

UNFThompson, MelvinRestaurant Association of MarylandRegistered for: Restaurant Association of Maryland

UNFWiggins, GrasonRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce; United Way of Central Maryland, Inc.; Madison Marquette Property Investments LLC; Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund; Family Tree, The; OVG Facilities…