Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1634*
HOUSE BILL 1634
A3, K3 6lr3706
CF SB 995
By: Delegate Roberts
Introduced and read first time: February 25, 2026
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Cannabis Licensure – Labor Peace Agreements and Collective Bargaining 2
FOR the purpose of requiring, as a condition of licensure, certain applicants for cannabis 3
licenses and certain cannabis licensees to establish the existence of a certain labor 4
peace agreement under certain circumstances; and generally relating to cannabis 5
licensure. 6
BY adding to 7
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 8
Section 36–412 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 14
36–412. 15
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 16
INDICATED. 17
(2) “COLLECTIVE BARGAINING” MEANS: 18
(I) GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATI ONS BY AUTHORIZED 19
REPRESENTATIVES OF EMPLOYEES AND THEIR EMPLOYER WITH THE INTENTION OF: 20
1. A. REACHING AN AGREEMEN T ABOUT WAGES , 21
HOURS, AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT; AND 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1634
B. INCORPORATING THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT IN 1
A WRITTEN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OR OTHER WRITTEN 2
UNDERSTANDING; OR 3
2. CLARIFYING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF 4
EMPLOYMENT; 5
(II) ADMINISTRATION OF TE RMS AND CONDITIONS O F 6
EMPLOYMENT; OR 7
(III) THE VOLUNTARY ADJUST MENT OF A DISPUTE OR 8
DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN AUTHORIZED REPRESENT ATIVES OF EMPLOYEES AND 9
THEIR EMPLOYER THAT ARISES UNDER A MEMOR ANDUM OF UNDERSTANDI NG OR 10
OTHER WRITTEN UNDERSTANDING. 11
(3) (I) “LABOR ORGANIZATION” MEANS: 12
1. AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS ACTIVELY SEEKING TO 13
REPRESENT OR IS REPRESENTING EMPLOYEES IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY; OR 14
2. AN AGENT OF AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN ITEM 15
1 OF THIS ITEM. 16
(II) “LABOR ORGANIZATION” INCLUDES: 17
1. AN ORGANIZATION OF ANY KIND , AN AGENCY, OR AN 18
EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION COMMITTEE, GROUP, ASSOCIATION, OR PLAN: 19
A. IN WHICH EMPLOYEES I N THE CANNABIS INDUS TRY 20
PARTICIPATE; AND 21
B. THAT EXISTS, WHOLLY OR PARTLY, FOR THE PURPOSE 22
OF DEALING WITH EMPL OYERS CONCERNING GRIEVANCE S, LABOR DISPUTES , 23
WAGES, RATES OF PAY , HOURS, OR OTHER TERMS AND C ONDITIONS OF 24
EMPLOYMENT; AND 25
2. A CONFERENCE , GENERAL COMMITTEE , JOINT OR 26
SYSTEM BOARD , OR JOINT COUNCIL THA T IS SUBORDINATE TO A NATIONAL OR 27
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO WHICH AN ORG ANIZATION DESCRIBED UNDER 28
SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH BELONGS. 29
(4) “LABOR PEACE AGREEMENT” MEANS AN AGREEMENT: 30
HOUSE BILL 1634 3
(I) BETWEEN AN ENTITY SE EKING A CANNABIS LIC ENSE OR A 1
CANNABIS LICENSEE AND A LABOR ORGANIZATION THAT, AT A MINIMUM, PROTECTS 2
THE STATE’S INTERESTS BY PROHI BITING THE LABOR ORG ANIZATION FROM 3
ENGAGING IN PICKETING, WORK STOPPAGES, BOYCOTTS, OR ANY OTHER ECONOMIC 4
INTERFERENCE WITH TH E OPERATION OF THE E NTITY SEEKING A CANN ABIS 5
LICENSE OR THE CANNA BIS LICENSEE WITHIN THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF THE 6
EFFECTIVE DATE OF A LICENSE; 7
(II) THAT APPLIES TO ALL OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BY THE 8
APPLICANT OR LICENSEE AT A FACILITY OR L OCATION WHERE THE APPLICANT OR 9
LICENSEE CONDUCTS BUSINESS UNDER THE LICENSE; AND 10
(III) THAT IS VALID AND ENFORCEABLE UNDER 29 U.S.C. § 158. 11
(B) TO BE ISSUED A CANNAB IS LICENSE , UNLESS THE APPLICANT OR 12
LICENSEE ALREADY HAS A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, THE APPLICANT 13
OR LICENSEE SHALL PRODUCE INFORMATION, DOCUMENTATION, AND ASSURANCES 14
TO ESTABLISH B Y CLEAR AND CONVINCI NG EVIDENCE THAT THE APPLICANT OR 15
LICENSEE HAS ENTERED INTO A LABOR PEACE A GREEMENT WITH EACH L ABOR 16
ORGANIZATION THAT IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN REPRESENTING OR ATTEMPTING TO 17
REPRESENT CANNABIS INDUSTRY WORKERS IN THE STATE. 18
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
October 1, 2026. 20