MARYLAND - Maryland employers can now register for the state’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance program as the state prepares for payroll contributions to begin in 2027 and paid leave benefits to launch in 2028.
Gov. Wes Moore announced that registration for the program, known as FAMLI, is now available as of Sept. 1 at paidleave.maryland.gov. All employers with at least one Maryland-based employee are required to register.
When benefits become available in January 2028, eligible workers will be able to receive up to 12 weeks of job-protected paid leave with benefits up to $1,000 per week. The leave can be used to welcome a new child, address a worker’s own serious health condition, care for a family member with a serious health condition or handle family needs related to a military deployment.
“Maryland’s paid family and medical leave program will make Maryland’s economy more competitive by helping ensure our workers don’t have to choose between their job and their family and our employers don’t have to choose between supporting their employees and making payroll," said Gov. Moore.
FAMLI is an insurance program where contributions go into a dedicated fund to provide partial wage replacement to workers while they are on approved leave. Employers have the choice to either participate in Maryland’s State Plan or apply to offer an approved private plan.
Under state law, FAMLI is funded through quarterly contributions from employers and employees. Employers may withhold up to half of the contribution rate from workers through payroll deductions.
Businesses with fewer than 15 employees will qualify for a small-employer discount and will not have to pay the employer portion of the contribution. The Maryland Department of Labor says more than 80 percent of employers in the state will qualify for the discount.
“As we implement Maryland’s paid leave law, we know employers will have questions about how the program works and specific steps they need to take,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “Whether you are a small business owner handling HR yourself or a large employer with a big payroll system, the Department of Labor is here to support you every step of the way. We want to make registration as seamless and straightforward as possible.”
Employers must begin withholding employee contributions during the first pay period in January 2027. The first quarterly contribution payment will be due April 30, 2027. Job-protected paid leave benefits are scheduled to become available in January 2028.
