MD HB1241

Expands eligibility for bereavement leave beyond "immediate family" to include individuals with whom the employee had a "qualified relationship"

Qualified relationships now include: immediate family members, grandparents, siblings, domestic partners, step-relations, adoptive relations, foster relations, and de facto relations

Applies to employers with 15 or more employees who provide leave with pay through collective bargaining agreements or employment policies

Employees may use earned paid leave (sick leave, vacation, PTO, compensatory time) for bereavement under the expanded relationship categories

Effective date: October 1, 2026