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House passes Maryland Worker Freedom Act barring penalties for mandatory ‘captive audience’ meetings
Summary
The Maryland House of Delegates approved House Bill 233 after floor debate over whether the measure is legally vulnerable; supporters said it protects employees from being penalized for refusing to attend employer meetings about political or religious matters.
ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland House of Delegates on Feb. 25 approved House Bill 233, titled the Maryland Worker Freedom Act, which prohibits employers from penalizing employees or applicants for refusing to attend mandatory meetings about religious or political matters.
Supporters said the bill protects workers’ free-speech rights and prevents employers from using mandatory meetings to pressure employees about political or religious views. Opponents warned the measure is overly broad and predicted litigation challenging the state law’s interaction with federal labor rules.
The bill’s sponsor and the House floor leader described the measure as limited to preventing…
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