EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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HOUSE BILL 37
K3 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 5lr1029
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate Vogel
Requested: October 1, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Appropriations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Declaration of Rights – Right to Organize 2
FOR the purpose of establishing every person employed in the State has the fundamental 3
right to organize and bargain collectively concerning compensation, hours, and other 4
terms and conditions of employment; and prohibiting the State from, directly or 5
indirectly, denying, burdening, or abridging the right unless justified by a compelling 6
State interest achieved by the least restrictive means. 7
BY proposing an addition to the Maryland Constitution 8
Declaration of Rights 9
Article 49 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
(Three–fifths of all the members elected to each of the two Houses concurring), That it be 12
proposed that the Maryland Constitution read as follows: 13
Declaration of Rights 14
ARTICLE 49. 15
THAT EVERY PERSON EMP LOYED IN THE STATE HAS THE FUNDAME NTAL 16
RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY CONCERNING COMPENSATION , 17
HOURS, AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOY MENT. THE STATE MAY 18
NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECT LY, DENY, BURDEN, OR ABRIDGE THE RIGHT UNLESS 19
JUSTIFIED BY A COMPE LLING STATE INTEREST ACHIEV ED BY THE LEAST 20
RESTRICTIVE MEANS . 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the General Assembly 22
determines that the amendment to the Maryland Constitution proposed by Section 1 of this 23 2 HOUSE BILL 37
Act affects multiple jurisdictions and that the provisions of Article XIV, § 1 of the Maryland 1
Constitution concerning local approval of constitutional amendments do not apply. 2
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the amendment to the 3
Maryland Constitution proposed by Section 1 of this Act shall be submitted to the qualified 4
voters of the State at the next general election to be held in November 2026 for adoption or 5
rejection in accordance with Article XIV of the Maryland Constitution. At that general 6
election, the vote on the proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be by ballot, and on 7
each ballot there shall be printed the words “For the Constitutional Amendment” and 8
“Against the Constitutional Amendment”, as now provided by law. Immediately after the 9
election, all returns shall be made to the Governor of the vote for and against the proposed 10
amendment, as directed by Article XIV of the Maryland Constitution, and furth er 11
proceedings had in accordance with Article XIV. 12