Gov. Larry Hogan’s effort to provide tax credits to certain businesses that provide paid sick leave is moving forward with just over two weeks left in the General Assembly’s legislative session.
The Senate on Monday unanimously passed SB 134. The bill will need the House’s approval before it can be sent to Hogan’s desk to become law. Hogan proposed the Small Business Relief Tax Credit as a way to help small businesses who said a law passed last year requiring them to provide paid sick leave was too burdensome.
Maryland’s paid sick leave law requires businesses with 15 or more employees to offer up to five days of paid sick leave, while employers with fewer than 15 workers will need to provide five unpaid sick days. Hogan opposed the law, saying it would hurt small businesses and lead to fewer jobs.
Despite a veto by Hogan at the start of this year’s session in January, the law took effect after an override by General Assembly.