MD HB1424

Renames the Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund to the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund and expands eligibility to include Maryland residents who were terminated from federal employment due to agency closures, relocations, or mass layoffs on or after January 1, 2025, in addition to those affected by government shutdowns

Authorizes the Catastrophic Event Account to fund costs related to federal government closures, relocations, or mass layoffs, and permits the Maryland Department of Labor to forgive loans from the Fund and share information with third-party vendors to verify federal employment

Establishes an Expedited Hiring Program in the Department of Budget and Management to fast-track hiring of former federal employees who left service after January 15, 2025, for vacant state positions with a 40-day recruitment goal

Increases the annual appropriation to the Attorney General from $1,000,000 to $2,500,000 and expands the Attorney General's authority to investigate and litigate federal actions affecting Maryland residents, including protecting terminated federal workers and residents denied federal benefits like Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid

Authorizes the Governor to transfer up to $5,000,000 from the Revenue Stabilization Account to the loan fund and up to $1,500,000 to the Attorney General, subject to 7-day Legislative Policy Committee review; enacted as an emergency measure effective April 22, 2025