Maryland will begin taking money out of workers’ paychecks in January 2027 to finance a paid family leave program that will not provide benefits until a full year later, following repeated delays since its creation in 2022.
The state’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program will require workers to contribute up to 0.45% of their wages, with larger employers generally contributing an additional 0.45%, bringing the combined rate to 0.9%. Maryland officials argue the yearlong collection period is necessary to build an insurance reserve, while former Maryland state Del. Dan Cox, the Republican nominee for governor, told the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) that the deductions should be suspended.
The program was established through the Time to Care Act, which lawmakers passed over then-Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto in 2022. Originally scheduled to begin paying benefits in January 2025, the program was delayed repeatedly, with its current timeline setting Jan. 1, 2028, as the date eligible workers can begin receiving up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave…