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Bill Summary · SB 969

Summary — SB 969 (Howard County)

Title: Howard County - Department of Fire and Rescue Services - Current and Prospective Employee Medical Cannabis Use
Bill status: Withdrawn by sponsor (withdrawn 2025-03-10)
Introduced: January 29, 2025
Companion: HB 472
Effective date (as enacted): October 1, 2025 (proposed)

Purpose / Intent

The bill would have prohibited the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (the Department) from refusing to hire, discharging, or otherwise discriminating in compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment solely because an individual is a qualifying medical cannabis patient under Maryland law (Title 36, Subtitle 3 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article) or is authorized to use medical cannabis under another state’s law.

The stated intent is to protect current and prospective employees from employment adverse actions solely on the basis of authorized off-duty medical cannabis use, while preserving the Department’s ability to restrict on-duty impairment for safety-sensitive positions.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new Section (Article — Public Safety §7‑405) applying only to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.
  • Prohibits failure/refusal to hire, discharge, or other employment discrimination solely because an individual is:
    • A qualifying medical cannabis patient under Maryland law; or
    • Authorized to use medical cannabis under another state’s law.
  • Permits the Department to:
    • Prohibit an employee from performing duties while impaired by cannabis; and
    • Prohibit using cannabis within the 12 hours immediately preceding an employee’s shift.
  • Defines “Department” as the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.
  • Proposed effective date: October 1, 2025.

Who would be affected

  • Current employees and job applicants of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, including prospective hires who are qualifying medical cannabis patients or otherwise authorized medical users in other jurisdictions.
  • The bill is narrowly targeted and does not apply to other Howard County departments or employers outside Howard County.

Impact and considerations

  • Fiscal: The Department of Legislative Services fiscal note reports no material effect on Howard County operations or finances and no State fiscal effect.
  • Operational: If enacted, the Department would need to revise hiring and personnel policies to avoid adverse actions based solely on off-duty, lawful medical cannabis authorization, while retaining rules to address on-duty impairment and a 12‑hour pre-shift use restriction.
  • Legal scope: Protection applies only when employment actions are taken solely because of the individual’s medical cannabis authorization; it does not shield conduct that independently justifies discipline (e.g., on-duty impairment, safety violations, or other misconduct).
  • Context: The fiscal note references Maryland’s medical and adult‑use cannabis statutory framework enacted in 2022–2023.

Procedural history (selected)

  • Received/filed: January 29, 2025 (read first time Feb 13, 2025 per records)
  • Referred to Finance (and Business & Commerce per logs); hearings scheduled/cancelled
  • Withdrawn by sponsor: March 10, 2025

Note: The legislative packet included an unrelated Illinois bill text (SB0969) inserted in error; this summary addresses the Maryland Howard County measure.

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

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