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HB 921

State Employees - Colleague Bereavement Leave

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jazz Lewis

HB 921 expands Maryland state employee bereavement leave to include colleague deaths, potentially increasing paid leave availability and state budget costs.

Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 921

Legislative bill overview

HB 921 would expand bereavement leave for Maryland state employees to include time off for the death of a colleague. Currently, state employees typically receive bereavement leave only for immediate family members or close relatives. This bill extends that benefit to coworkers, though specific details about eligibility criteria and duration are not provided in the available information.

Why is this important

Workplace mental health and employee wellbeing are increasingly recognized as important factors in productivity and retention. Allowing employees to grieve the loss of colleagues they work with daily can support emotional processing and workplace morale during difficult times. However, this also represents a potential expansion of paid leave benefits that affects state budget allocations.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition ambiguity: "Colleague" could be interpreted broadly (anyone in the same agency) or narrowly (immediate work team), creating inconsistent implementation across departments
  • Cost and abuse concerns: Expanding bereavement leave increases state payroll costs and may face scrutiny about potential misuse or frequency of claims
  • Distinguishing relationships: Unlike family bereavement, colleague relationships vary widely in closeness, raising questions about which coworker deaths genuinely warrant leave versus subjective personal connections

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

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