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House debate focuses on "captive audience" Worker Freedom bill as multiple amendments fail
Summary
Lawmakers engaged in hours of floor debate over House Bill 45, a bill limiting employer retaliation for employees who skip meetings about politics or religion. Multiple amendments — on preemption, definitions, small‑business carveouts and penalties — were offered and defeated; the bill was ordered printed for third reading.
Members of the Maryland House of Delegates spent an extended portion of Thursday’s floor session debating House Bill 45, labeled by supporters as the Maryland Worker Freedom Act and by opponents as a "captive audience" restriction. The bill would bar employers from disciplining, firing or otherwise penalizing employees for refusing to attend meetings where the employer communicates its views on religious or political matters.
The minority leader argued the measure risks constitutional and federal‑preemption challenges, citing a letter from the state Attorney General, Anthony Brown, dated April 2, 2026, that warned the bill could trigger litigation and…
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