Maryland Updates Deployment Leave and Parental Leave Laws

The following updates take effect on October 1, 2025:

Deployment Leave Law

Maryland's family deployment leave law will cover deployment to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Public Health Service. Currently, the law only covers the armed forces. This law applies to employers with 50 or more employees and provides one day of leave when a family member is leaving for or returning from active duty outside of the United States.

Parental Leave Act

The Maryland Parental Leave Act (MPLA) won't apply to employers covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in a given calendar year. This change is an attempt to streamline parental leave requirements by removing duplicative obligations for employers already covered by the FMLA. The MPLA generally applies to employers with 15 to 49 employees in the state for at least 20 or more work weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. It provides up to six work weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.

Action Items:

Update your family deployment leave policy.