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*hb1070*
HOUSE BILL 1070
K3, C8 6lr3413
CF SB 539
By: Delegate Smith Delegates Smith, Ruth, and Wells
Introduced and read first time: February 10, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Department of Social and Economic Mobility – Workforce Opportunities Grant 2
Program and Fund 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Workforce Opportunities Grant Program to provide 4
grants to certain organizations to support the planning and execution of workforce 5
events and job fairs in the State; establishing the Workforce Opport unities Grant 6
Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to support the Program; requiring that interest 7
earnings be credited to the Fund; and generally relating to the Workforce 8
Opportunities Grant Program and Fund. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – State Finance and Procurement 11
Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) and (ii) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – State Finance and Procurement 16
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)212. and 213. 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
BY adding to 20
Article – State Finance and Procurement 21
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)214. 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1070
Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 2
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 3
Article – State Government 4
Section 9–4103 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 7
BY adding to 8
Article – State Government 9
Section 9 –4125 through 9 –4129 to be under the new part “Part IV. Workforce 10
Opportunities Grant Program” 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – State Finance and Procurement 16
6–226. 17
(a) (2) (i) This paragraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 18
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 19
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 20
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 21
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 22
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 23
Fund of the State. 24
(iii) The provisions of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph do not 25
apply to the following funds: 26
212. the Department of Social and Economic Mobility Special 27
Fund; [and] 28
213. the Population Health Improvement Fund; AND 29
214. THE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT FUND. 30
Article – State Government 31
9–4103. 32
HOUSE BILL 1070 3
(a) The purpose of the Department is to: 1
(1) provide support for units of State government, individuals, and 2
businesses for the maintenance of social equity policies in the State; 3
(2) monitor trends in social equity programs and policies across the nation; 4
(3) propose new and innovative approaches to social equity programs; 5
(4) compile and produce reports and recommend ations related to social 6
equity; 7
(5) ensure the fulfillment of the roles and responsibilities of the entities 8
and social equity programs in the State for which it is the successor; 9
(6) track the performance of social equity programs and small or 10
disadvantaged business assistance programs; 11
(7) promote and encourage full participation in the regulated cannabis 12
industry by individuals from communities that have previously been disproportionately 13
impacted by the war on drugs in order to positively impact those communities and other 14
duties assigned to the Office of Social Equity established under this subtitle; 15
(8) support small or disadvantaged businesses in the State through all 16
duties assigned to the [Governor’s] Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs; 17
[and] 18
(9) carry out the duties of the Office of Minority Business Enterprises 19
within the Maryland Department of Transportation, including duties assigned to support 20
small or disadvantaged businesses; AND 21
(10) OVERSEE AND ADMIN ISTER THE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES 22
GRANT PROGRAM AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT FUND. 23
(b) The Department shall: 24
(1) connect a person with programs in State, federal, and local government 25
that serve designated populations to ensure the person is connected to programs and other 26
opportunities the person is eligible for; 27
(2) provide units of State government with assistance related to the 28
purpose of the Department by: 29
(i) facilitating information sharing between units; 30
4 HOUSE BILL 1070
(ii) maintaining an inventory of social equity work performed by 1
each unit and relevant reports from those units; 2
(iii) conducting policy analyses on social equity and the effectiveness 3
of social equity programs; 4
(iv) adopting standards for units to promote social equity; and 5
(v) providing technical assistance to units; and 6
(3) adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle. 7
9–4123. RESERVED. 8
9–4124. RESERVED. 9
PART IV. WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT PROGRAM. 10
9–4125. 11
(A) IN THIS PART THE FOLL OWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 12
INDICATED. 13
(B) “FUND” MEANS THE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT FUND. 14
(C) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT 15
PROGRAM. 16
9–4126. 17
(A) THERE IS A WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT PROGRAM IN THE 18
DEPARTMENT. 19
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. 20
(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO SUPPORT 21
THE PLANNING AND EXE CUTION OF WORKFORCE EVENTS AND JOB FAIRS IN THE 22
STATE THAT CONNECT JOB SEEKERS WITH EMPLOYERS. 23
9–4127. 24
(A) SUBJECT TO THE AVAILA BILITY OF FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM, THE 25
DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH AN APPLICATION PROCESS THAT AWARDS GRANTS 26
ON A COMPETITIVE BAS IS TO NONPROFIT ORGA NIZATIONS, LOCAL WORKFORCE 27
HOUSE BILL 1070 5
BOARDS, AND PARTNERSHIPS THA T INCLUDE EMPLOYERS , COMMUNITY 1
ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT: 2
(1) REGULARLY WORK WITH SMALL AND LARGE EMPL OYERS FROM 3
MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES AND REGIONS ACROSS THE STATE; 4
(2) CAN CONDUCT WORKFORCE EVENTS OR JOB FAIR S IN MULTIPLE 5
REGIONS OF THE STATE THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS; 6
(3) HAVE EXPERIENCE ORGA NIZING EVENTS AND WO RKING WITH 7
EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HIRE JOB SEEKERS; AND 8
(4) HAVE THE CAPACITY TO CONNECT JOB SEEKERS DIRECTLY WITH 9
EMPLOYERS FROM MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES. 10
(B) (1) AN APPLICANT FOR A GR ANT UNDER THE PROGRAM SHALL 11
DEMONSTRATE A PLAN T O CONDUCT TARGETED O UTREACH AND ADVANCE 12
NOTIFICATION OF WORKFORCE JOB EVENTS AND FAIRS TO: 13
(I) STUDENTS ENROLLED IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGH ER 14
EDUCATION AND TRADE OR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS; AND 15
(II) JOB SEEKERS WHO AR E RETURNING TO THE W ORKFORCE, 16
INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS REENTERING THE WOR KFORCE AFTER INCARCE RATION, 17
AND INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN AREAS WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES. 18
(2) PRIORITY CONSIDERATION FOR AWARDING A GRANT UNDER THE 19
PROGRAM SHALL BE GIVEN TO: 20
(I) APPLICANTS THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS OR 21
DEMONSTRATED EXPERIE NCE IN WORKING WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGH ER 22
EDUCATION, WORKFORCE TRAINING P ROVIDERS, OR TRADE OR APPRENTI CESHIP 23
PROGRAMS; AND 24
(II) APPLICANTS THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS OR 25
DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENC E IN WORKING WITH CO MMUNITY–BASED 26
ORGANIZATIONS, WORKFORCE BOARDS, OR PROVIDERS THAT SE RVE INDIVIDUALS 27
RESIDING IN AREAS WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT OR WHO ARE RETURNING TO THE 28
WORKFORCE. 29
(B) (C) AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS AWARDED A GRANT U NDER THE 30
PROGRAM MAY USE THE FUNDS FOR: 31
(1) OUTREACH; 32
6 HOUSE BILL 1070
(2) LOGISTICS; 1
(3) VENUES; 2
(4) SUPPORT SERVICES; 3
(5) STAFFING; AND 4
(6) EVENT COORDINATION. 5
9–4128. 6
(A) THERE IS A WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT FUND. 7
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM. 8
(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 9
(D) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 10
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 11
(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 12
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND. 13
(E) THE FUND CONSISTS OF: 14
(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND; 15
(2) INTEREST EARNINGS; AND 16
(3) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED FOR 17
THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 18
(F) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR PROGRAM PURPOSES. 19
(G) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITE D TO THE 20
FUND. 21
(H) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE FUND IN 22
THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE INVESTED. 23
HOUSE BILL 1070 7
(I) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE 1
WITH THE STATE BUDGET. 2
(J) FOR EACH OF FISCAL YE ARS 2028 THROUGH 2030, THE GOVERNOR 3
SHALL INCLUDE IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF A T LEAST 4
$500,000 FOR THE FUND. 5
9–4129. 6
(A) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1 EACH YEAR , BEGINNING IN 2028, THE 7
DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT ON THE PROGRAM TO THE GOVERNOR AND, 8
IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 9
(B) THE REPORT SUBMITTED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 10
SHALL INCLUDE: 11
(1) THE NUMBER AND LOCAT ION OF EVENTS HELD U SING GRANT 12
FUNDS AWARDED UNDER THE PROGRAM; 13
(2) THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS PARTICIPATING 14
IN EVENTS SUPPORTED BY GRANT FUNDS AWARDED UNDER THE PROGRAM; AND 15
(3) DATA ON JOB PLACEMENTS AND HIRES RESULTING FROM EVENTS 16
SUPPORTED BY GRANT FUNDS AWARDED UNDER THE PROGRAM. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 18
October 1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 5 years and, at the end of September 19
30, 2031, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 20
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 21
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.