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SB 539MARYLANDSession 2026State Billfiled

Maryland Creates Workforce Opportunities Grant Program and Fund to Support Job Fairs

Original title: Department of Social and Economic Mobility – Workforce Opportunities Grant Program and Fund

Last action · February 12, 2026: Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Will Smith

Companion · HB 1070same policy, House version
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Would Do

Maryland establishes the Workforce Opportunities Grant Program to provide competitive grants for planning and executing workforce events and job fairs, backed by a dedicated special fund receiving at least $500,000 annually from fiscal years 2028 through 2030.

Why it matters

Nonprofit organizations, local workforce boards, and employer partnerships gain access to new state funding sources starting October 1, 2026, to organize multi-region hiring events and connect job seekers directly with employers.

Background
  • The Department of Social and Economic Mobility oversees various social equity and business assistance programs in Maryland. context
  • State special funds in Maryland are occasionally exempted from standard general fund interest crediting rules under specific statutory provisions. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Nonprofit organizations

Eligible to apply for and receive competitive grant funds to plan and execute workforce events and job fairs.

Directly affected

Local workforce boards

Eligible to compete for grant awards to support regional employment events.

Directly affected

Job seekers

Gain increased access to organized workforce events, job fairs, and direct connections with employers.

Directly affected

Department of Social and Economic Mobility

Tasked with administering the grant program and fund, setting application processes, and submitting annual reports.

Key Facts

  • Establishes the Workforce Opportunities Grant Program within the Department of Social and Economic Mobility to support workforce events and job fairs.
  • Creates the Workforce Opportunities Grant Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund exempt from standard general fund interest crediting rules.
  • Requires the Governor to include an appropriation of at least $500,000 for the Fund in the annual budget bill for fiscal years 2028 through 2030.
  • Awards grants on a competitive basis to nonprofit organizations, local workforce boards, and partnerships including employers and community organizations.
Show all 7 facts
  • Permits grant recipients to use funds for outreach, logistics, venues, support services, staffing, and event coordination.
  • Requires the Department to submit an annual report on the program to the Governor and General Assembly beginning on or before January 1, 2028.
  • Takes effect October 1, 2026, and remains effective for 5 years until September 30, 2031, after which it is abrogated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for the Workforce Opportunities Grants?
Competitive grants are available to nonprofit organizations, local workforce boards, and partnerships that include employers, community organizations, and other stakeholders with experience organizing events and connecting job seekers directly with employers.
What can grant funds be used for?
Grant funds may be used for outreach, logistics, venues, support services, staffing, and event coordination.
How much money is guaranteed for the fund?
The Governor is required to include an appropriation of at least $500,000 for the Fund in the annual budget bill for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2030.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.

Procedural history

2 actions
  1. Feb 12, 2026Senate
    Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m.
  2. Feb 4, 2026SenateIntroduced
    First Reading Finance

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Will SmithSenate · District 20DemocraticSponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift99% confidence

Expanded Departmental Duties

The bill expands the responsibilities of the Department of Social and Economic Mobility to include overseeing and administering the new Workforce Opportunities Grant Program and Fund.

Department of Social and Economic Mobility

Sources

Open source document

mgaleg.maryland.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance45
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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