MD HB831

Establishes collective bargaining rights for county and municipal government employees in Maryland, applying the Maryland Public Employee Relations Act to local governments effective July 1, 2026

Excludes county boards of education, community college boards, and public library systems from the definition of "public local employer," while including county sheriff's departments

Creates binding arbitration procedures for impasse resolution involving quasi-governmental entities, requiring arbitrators to complete proceedings within 30 days and consider comparable wages in surrounding jurisdictions and employer ability to pay

Allows counties and municipalities to petition the Public Employee Relations Board for exemption if their local laws comply with state requirements, with exempt jurisdictions required to establish impasse procedures that either permit strikes or provide binding arbitration

Increases the maximum number of deputy directors the Public Employee Relations Board may appoint from three to four, and requires the Board to annually publish local government collective bargaining agreements on its website