HB 604

EnactedConstitutional amendmentCrossfile SB 28

Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026

Sponsor: Jared Solomon (District 18)Committee: Government, Labor, and ElectionsSubject: State Government - PersonnelStatus: Approved by the Governor, assigned a chapter number, enactment subject to constitutional referendum - Chapter 155 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering the collective bargaining process for certain State employees, including by requiring the selection of a neutral arbitrator to oversee certain aspects of collective bargaining and establishing a process of arbitration in the event of impasse in negotiations between certain parties; requiring that each budget bill submitted by the Governor contain the appropriations necessary to implement all terms and conditions of employment in certain memoranda of understanding for the next ensuing fiscal year; etc.

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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 (22)

MGA witness list

FAV 20FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Vick , Cherrish	AFSCME Local 112	Oral
FAV	Michaels, Deborah	AFSCME Local 1459	Written (PDF)
FAV	Grate, Sandra	AFSCME Local 1885	Oral
FAV	Noble, Ginger	AFSCME Local 354	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gilmore , Deniselobbyist	AFSCME Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Reynolds, Todd	AFT Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wivell, Brianlobbyist	ATU Local 1300	Written (PDF)
FAV	Duncan Evans, Cristina E	Baltimore Teachers Union	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baker, Ray	Baltimore- DC Building Trades	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Tom	IBEW 26	Written (PDF)
FAV	Albacarys, Rico	International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 24	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Edwards, Donna	Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIO	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Cook, Jessicalobbyist	Maryland State Education Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lan, Miranda	Metro Baltimore AFL CIO	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cano, Christopherlobbyist	SEIU Local 500	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gill, Brian	State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Solomon, Delegate Solomonlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Maher, David	Individual	Oral
UNF	Roxas, Sherri	University System of Maryland Office	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Phillips, Dana	Department of Budget and Management	Oral + Written (PDF)