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HB 1108

Labor and Employment - Greenhouse Workers - Collective Bargaining and Heat Protection

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Hornberger and 1 co-sponsor

HB 1108 grants Maryland greenhouse workers collective bargaining rights and mandates heat protection standards to address occupational safety and labor organization in controlled agricultural environments.

Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 1108

Legislative bill overview

HB 1108 would establish collective bargaining rights for greenhouse workers in Maryland and implement heat protection standards for workers in greenhouse environments. The bill addresses both labor organization and occupational safety within the specialized agricultural sector.

Why is this important

Greenhouse workers face unique occupational hazards including extreme heat exposure in controlled growing environments, yet have historically lacked formal collective bargaining protections afforded to other workers. This legislation attempts to address both workplace safety gaps and worker representation in an industry that has expanded significantly with urban agriculture and controlled-environment farming.

Potential points of contention

  • Agricultural exemptions debate: Many agricultural workers are exempt from standard labor laws; this bill's scope regarding which greenhouse operations are covered and whether it overrides existing agricultural exemptions could face legal or jurisdictional challenges
  • Business compliance costs: Employers argue implementing heat protection standards and collective bargaining infrastructure creates administrative and operational burdens, particularly for small-scale operations
  • Heat standard specificity: Without seeing the bill's detailed requirements, questions likely exist about what temperature thresholds, break schedules, and equipment provisions are mandated versus recommendations, and whether standards align with existing OSHA guidelines or create new state-specific requirements

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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