SB 539

Department of Social and Economic Mobility – Workforce Opportunities Grant Program and Fund

Sponsor: William C. Smith, Jr. (District 20)Committee: FinanceSubject: Private Sector Labor and IndustryStatus: Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Workforce Opportunities Grant Program to provide grants to certain organizations to support the planning and execution of workforce events and job fairs in the State; establishing the Workforce Opportunities Grant Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to support the Program; requiring that interest earnings be credited to the Fund; and requiring, for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2030, the Governor to include in the annual budget an appropriation of at least $500,000 to the Program.

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Testimony (18)

MGA witness list

FAV 10FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendmentsUNF 3UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	McCoy, Juli	Allegany County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
FAV	Christopher, Bill	Dorchester Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rose, Angela	Harford County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arneson, Emilylobbyist	Kennedy Krieger Institute	Written (PDF)
FAV	Richards, Evanlobbyist	Maryland Bankers Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wiggins, Grasonlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Whitaker, Jakelobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral
FAV	Chambers, william	Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
FAV	Featherstone, Anthony	Worksource Montgomery Inc.	Oral
FAV	Senator Smith, Senator Smithlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Wieland, Tom	Ritchie Pharmacy , Brooklyn Park, Md.	Position only
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FWA	Dews, Christopherlobbyist	Dews & Associates	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Johnson, Qiana	Life After Release	Position only
FWA	Sakata, Michael	MTBMA	Written (PDF)
FWA	Butler, Brandonlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Kamali, Ardy	Department of Social and Economic Mobility	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Allegany County Chamber of CommerceFAV 1

Department of Social and Economic MobilityINFO 1

Dews & AssociatesFWA 1

Dorchester Chamber of CommerceFAV 1

Harford County Chamber of CommerceFAV 1

Kennedy Krieger InstituteFAV 1

Life After ReleaseFWA 1

Maryland Bankers AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceFAV 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationFAV 1

MTBMAFWA 1

Ritchie Pharmacy , Brooklyn Park, Md.UNF 1

Salisbury Area Chamber of CommerceFAV 1

Worksource Montgomery Inc.FAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVArneson, EmilyKennedy Krieger InstituteRegistered for: Kennedy Krieger Institute

FAVRichards, EvanMaryland Bankers AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Bankers Association

FAVWiggins, GrasonMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered 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…

FAVWhitaker, JakeMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association

FWADews, ChristopherDews & AssociatesRegistered for: Advance Maryland Education Fund; Beyond Impact; Center for Urban Families; Dews & Associates; Out for Justice, Inc.; REFORM Alliance…

FWAButler, BrandonRegistered for: Cecil County Government; Center for Election Science; DelFest, LLC; International Responder Systems; Maryland Workforce Association; Toro Management, LLC…