SB 3

Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act of 2026

Sponsor: Benjamin F. Kramer (District 19)Committee: FinanceSubject: Unemployment InsuranceStatus: Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Repealing and establishing the methodology used to calculate the weekly benefit amount; altering the taxable wage base used to determine employer contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and the amount of earned wages subtracted from a weekly benefit amount; requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to determine and make available online the State annual average wage applicable to the rate of contribution; requiring beginning in 2027, the maximum weekly benefit to be 40% of the State average weekly wage; etc.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

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 (41)

MGA witness list

FAV 17FavorableUNF 20UnfavorableINFO 4Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Gobel, Christianlobbyist	AFSCME Maryland Council 3	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lynn, Benjamin	ATU Local 689	Written (PDF)
FAV	Muckle, Lonialobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Tom	IBEW 26	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Albacarys, Rico	International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 24	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Manno, Rogerlobbyist	Manno & Associates LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Meyer, Christopherlobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Orbe, Jr., Carlos	Maryland Latinos Unidos	Written (PDF)
FAV	Spraker, Jessica	Maryland Legal Aid	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Edwards, Donna	Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIO	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Ascher, Jasonlobbyist	Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Anderson, Chris	Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 486	Oral
FAV	Mock, Kaylalobbyist	UFCW 400	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator Kramer, Senator Kramerlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Wood, Lindsay	AHEC West	Written (PDF)
UNF	McCoy, Juli	Allegany County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Malara, Toby	American Staffing Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Blum, Danna	Carroll County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Rose, Angela	Harford County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Griffin, Andrewlobbyist	Howard County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Anderson, Karrington	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Allen, Hannahlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Rohrer, Amy	Maryland Hotel Lodging Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Campion, Louislobbyist	Maryland Motor Truck Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Jorch, Bill	Maryland Municipal League	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	locklair, caileylobbyist	Maryland Retailers Association	Oral
UNF	Levine, Brianlobbyist	Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	McCauley, Kirk	WMDA/CAR	Written (PDF)
UNF	Frey, Paul	Washington County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Andreassen, Parika	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Bagwell, Ashlielobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	O'Halloran, Mike	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Teffeau, Matthewlobbyist	Individual	Position only
UNF	Vetter, Drew	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Perkins-Cohen, Jason	Maryland Department of Labor	Oral
INFO	Siers, Michael	Maryland Department of Labor	Oral
INFO	Wu, Secretary Portia	Maryland Department of Labor	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	steel, sabrina	Maryland Department of Labor	Oral

Organizations on record

AFSCME Maryland Council 3FAV 1

AHEC WestUNF 1

Allegany County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

American Staffing AssociationUNF 1

ATU Local 689FAV 1

Carroll County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

CASH Campaign of MarylandFAV 1

Harford County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Howard County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

IBEW 26FAV 1

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 24FAV 1

Manno & Associates LLCFAV 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)UNF 1

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyFAV 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland Department of LaborINFO 4

Maryland Hotel Lodging AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Latinos UnidosFAV 1

Maryland Legal AidFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Motor Truck AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueUNF 1

Maryland Retailers AssociationUNF 1

Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIOFAV 1

Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades AssociationFAV 1

Montgomery County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 486FAV 1

UFCW 400FAV 1

Washington County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

WMDA/CARUNF 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVGobel, ChristianAFSCME Maryland Council 3Registered for: AFSCME Council 3

FAVMuckle, LoniaCASH Campaign of MarylandRegistered for: CASH Campaign of Maryland

FAVManno, RogerManno & Associates LLCRegistered for: CAUSE; Constellation; Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35; Mechanical Contractors Association of Metro Washington; Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association; Payactiv…

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

FAVAscher, JasonMid-Atlantic Pipe Trades AssociationRegistered for: Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association; UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 486

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

UNFGriffin, AndrewHoward County 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…

UNFAllen, HannahMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce

UNFCampion, LouisMaryland Motor Truck AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Motor Truck Association

UNFlocklair, caileyMaryland Retailers AssociationRegistered for: HPSO Investments LLC, T/A Riverboat on the Potomac; Maryland Retailers Alliance; Maryland Retailers Association

UNFLevine, BrianMontgomery County Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce

UNFBagwell, AshlieRegistered for: AbbVie Inc.; Aligned Data Centers; American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants, Inc.; Atmosphere Data Centers LLC; Baltimore Civic Fund, Inc.; Beltway Fine Wine…

UNFTeffeau, MatthewRegistered for: ABC Metro Washington; Choptank Electric Cooperative, Inc.