Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026
Maryland publishes no official pro/con arguments or fiscal notes on the ballot question page. Constitutional Amendment (Ch. 155 of the 2026 Legislative Session)
GAP-FILL 2026-10-10: fiscal_impact quoted verbatim from Maryland Department of Legislative Services, Fiscal and Policy Note (HB0604), "Fiscal Summary" section (https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/fnotes/bil_0004/hb0604.pdf). Single-sourced (one official document).
Providing that each budget submitted by the Governor shall include proposed expenditures necessary to implement wages, hours, fringe benefits, health benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment in each collective bargaining memorandum of understanding with State employees, whether the State and State employees reached those terms and conditions by mutual agreement or through a neutral decider's order. (Amending Article III of the Maryland Constitution)
A vote FOR this amendment means that the Governor has to include money in the proposed State budget to pay for agreements between the State and its employees. Agreements might include changes to wages, hours, fringe benefits, health benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. The Governor must put enough money in the State budget to cover the agreed upon pay and benefits for employees, whether those terms were negotiated or decided by a neutral decision-maker.
A vote AGAINST the amendment means that the law about funding agreements between the State and State employees stays the same.
Not published by the state
State Effect: If the proposed constitutional amendment is approved by the voters, State expenditures (all funds) increase annually, likely by at least $150,000, if not significantly more, beginning in FY 2028 for arbitration services and additional labor relations/human resources personnel, as discussed below. State personnel and other expenditures (all funds) are affected, potentially significantly, as early as FY 2029, as discussed below. Revenues are not directly affected. This assessment does not reflect any potential alteration in MES’s nonbudgeted status as a result of the bill, as discussed below. Local Effect: Local government finances are not directly affected. Small Business Effect: None.
Not published by the state
Not published by the state
Both columns use the same layout. Text is quoted from the official state guide. Views expressed belong to the argument authors.