Maryland has passed a law that explicitly excludes from coverage under the state’s Parental Leave Act (MPLA) employers who are already covered under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for the current calendar year.
The MPLA requires certain employers in Maryland to provide eligible employees with 6 workweeks of unpaid parental leave benefits, during any 12-month period, for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child. In addition to the new limitation on employer coverage, the law already limits covered employers to those with between 15 to 49 employees in the state.
The new exclusions are effective October 1, 2025.
