HB 1070

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 ______
1 AN ACT concerning
2 Department of Social and Economic Mobility – Workforce Opportunities Grant
3Program and Fund
4 FOR the purpose of establishing the Workforce Opportunities Grant Program to provide
5      grants to certain organizations to support the planning and execution of workforce
6      events and job fairs in the State; establishing the Workforce Opportunities Grant
7      Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to support the Program; requiring that interest
8      earnings be credited to the Fund; and generally relating to the Workforce
9      Opportunities Grant Program and Fund.
10 BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
11Article – State Finance and Procurement
12Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) and (ii)
13Annotated Code of Maryland
14(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
15 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
16Article – State Finance and Procurement
17Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)212. and 213.
18Annotated Code of Maryland
19(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
20 BY adding to
21      Article – State Finance and Procurement
22      Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)214.
     EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
  [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
  Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
  Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
  amendment.
  *hb1070*
2HOUSE BILL 1070
1Annotated Code of Maryland
2(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
3 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
4Article – State Government
5Section 9–4103
6Annotated Code of Maryland
7(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
8 BY adding to
9      Article – State Government
10      Section 9–4125 through 9–4129 to be under the new part “Part IV. Workforce
11Opportunities Grant Program”
12      Annotated Code of Maryland
13      (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
14SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
15 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
16Article – State Finance and Procurement
17 6–226.
18(a)     (2)   (i)      This paragraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
19(ii)   Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless
20 inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the
21 terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the
22 State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to
23 receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General
24 Fund of the State.
25(iii) The provisions of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph do not
26 apply to the following funds:
27212.   the Department of Social and Economic Mobility Special
28 Fund; [and]
29213.   the Population Health Improvement Fund; AND
30214. THE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT FUND.
31Article – State Government
32 9–4103.
  HOUSE BILL 1070  3
1(a)    The purpose of the Department is to:
2(1)    provide support for units of State government, individuals, and
3 businesses for the maintenance of social equity policies in the State;
4(2)   monitor trends in social equity programs and policies across the nation;
5(3)   propose new and innovative approaches to social equity programs;
6(4)   compile and produce reports and recommendations related to social
7 equity;
8(5)    ensure the fulfillment of the roles and responsibilities of the entities
9 and social equity programs in the State for which it is the successor;
10(6)   track the performance of social equity programs and small or
11 disadvantaged business assistance programs;
12(7)    promote and encourage full participation in the regulated cannabis
13 industry by individuals from communities that have previously been disproportionately
14 impacted by the war on drugs in order to positively impact those communities and other
15 duties assigned to the Office of Social Equity established under this subtitle;
16(8)    support small or disadvantaged businesses in the State through all
17 duties assigned to the [Governor’s] Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs;
18 [and]
19(9)   carry out the duties of the Office of Minority Business Enterprises
20 within the Maryland Department of Transportation, including duties assigned to support
21 small or disadvantaged businesses; AND
22(10) OVERSEE AND ADMINISTER THE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES
23 GRANT PROGRAM AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT FUND.
24(b)    The Department shall:
25(1)   connect a person with programs in State, federal, and local government
26 that serve designated populations to ensure the person is connected to programs and other
27 opportunities the person is eligible for;
28(2)   provide units of State government with assistance related to the
29 purpose of the Department by:
30(i)    facilitating information sharing between units;
4HOUSE BILL 1070
1(ii)   maintaining an inventory of social equity work performed by
2 each unit and relevant reports from those units;
3(iii) conducting policy analyses on social equity and the effectiveness
4 of social equity programs;
5(iv)   adopting standards for units to promote social equity; and
6(v)    providing technical assistance to units; and
7(3)   adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle.
8 9–4123. RESERVED.
9 9–4124. RESERVED.
10PART IV. WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT PROGRAM.
11 9–4125.
12(A)    IN THIS PART THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
13 INDICATED.
14(B)    “FUND” MEANS THE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT FUND.
15     (C) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT
16 PROGRAM.
17 9–4126.
18(A)
  THERE IS A WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT PROGRAM IN THE
19 DEPARTMENT.
20(B)    THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM.
21(C)    THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO SUPPORT
22 THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF WORKFORCE EVENTS AND JOB FAIRS IN THE
23 STATE THAT CONNECT JOB SEEKERS WITH EMPLOYERS.
24 9–4127.
25(A)    SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM, THE
26 DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH AN APPLICATION PROCESS THAT AWARDS GRANTS
27 ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL WORKFORCE
  HOUSE BILL 1070  5
1 BOARDS, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT INCLUDE  EMPLOYERS,   COMMUNITY
2 ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT:
3(1) REGULARLY WORK WITH SMALL AND LARGE EMPLOYERS FROM
4 MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES AND REGIONS ACROSS THE STATE;
5(2) CAN CONDUCT WORKFORCE EVENTS OR JOB FAIRS IN MULTIPLE
6 REGIONS OF THE STATE THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS;
7(3)HAVE EXPERIENCE ORGANIZING EVENTS AND WORKING WITH
8 EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HIRE JOB SEEKERS; AND
9(4)HAVE THE CAPACITY TO CONNECT JOB SEEKERS DIRECTLY WITH
10 EMPLOYERS FROM MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES.
11      (B)   (1)   AN APPLICANT FOR A GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM SHALL
12 DEMONSTRATE A PLAN TO CONDUCT TARGETED OUTREACH AND ADVANCE
13 NOTIFICATION OF WORKFORCE JOB EVENTS AND FAIRS TO:
14(I)
  STUDENTS ENROLLED IN INSTITUTIONS        OF   HIGHER
15 EDUCATION AND TRADE OR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS; AND
16(II)JOB SEEKERS WHO ARE RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE,
17 INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS REENTERING THE WORKFORCE AFTER INCARCERATION,
18 AND INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN AREAS WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES.
19(2)PRIORITY CONSIDERATION FOR AWARDING A GRANT UNDER THE
20 PROGRAM SHALL BE GIVEN TO:
21(I)
  APPLICANTS THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS OR
22 DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
23 EDUCATION, WORKFORCE TRAINING PROVIDERS, OR TRADE OR APPRENTICESHIP
24 PROGRAMS; AND
25(II)APPLICANTS THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS OR
26 DEMONSTRATED     EXPERIENCE    IN  WORKING    WITH   COMMUNITY–BASED
27 ORGANIZATIONS, WORKFORCE BOARDS, OR PROVIDERS THAT SERVE INDIVIDUALS
28 RESIDING IN AREAS WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT OR WHO ARE RETURNING TO THE
29 WORKFORCE.
30     (B) (C)   AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS AWARDED A GRANT UNDER THE
31 PROGRAM MAY USE THE FUNDS FOR:
32(1)   OUTREACH;
6HOUSE BILL 1070
1(2)   LOGISTICS;
2(3)   VENUES;
3(4)   SUPPORT SERVICES;
4(5)   STAFFING; AND
5(6)   EVENT COORDINATION.
6 9–4128.
7      (A)   THERE IS A WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GRANT FUND.
8      (B)   THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
9      (C)   THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND.
10      (D)  (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL, NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT
11 SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE.
12(2)THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY,
13 AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND.
14      (E)   THE FUND CONSISTS OF:
15(1)   MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND;
16(2)   INTEREST EARNINGS; AND
17(3)  ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACCEPTED FOR
18 THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND.
19      (F)   THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR PROGRAM PURPOSES.
20     (G)    ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE
21 FUND.
22      (H)  THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVEST THE MONEY OF THE FUND IN
23 THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE INVESTED.
  HOUSE BILL 1070  7
1(I) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE
2 WITH THE STATE BUDGET.
3(J)    FOR EACH OF FISCAL YEARS 2028 THROUGH 2030, THE GOVERNOR
4 SHALL INCLUDE IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET BILL AN APPROPRIATION OF AT LEAST
5 $500,000 FOR THE FUND.
6 9–4129.
7(A) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2028, THE
8 DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT ON THE PROGRAM TO THE GOVERNOR AND,
9 IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
10(B) THE REPORT SUBMITTED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION
11 SHALL INCLUDE:
12(1) THE NUMBER AND LOCATION OF EVENTS HELD USING GRANT
13 FUNDS AWARDED UNDER THE PROGRAM;
14(2)
  THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS PARTICIPATING
15 IN EVENTS SUPPORTED BY GRANT FUNDS AWARDED UNDER THE PROGRAM; AND
16(3)
  DATA ON JOB PLACEMENTS AND HIRES RESULTING FROM EVENTS
17 SUPPORTED BY GRANT FUNDS AWARDED UNDER THE PROGRAM.
18SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
19 October 1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 5 years and, at the end of September
20 30, 2031, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be
21 abrogated and of no further force and effect.
     Approved:
     ________________________________________________________________________________
  Governor.
     ________________________________________________________________________________
  Speaker of the House of Delegates.
     ________________________________________________________________________________
  President of the Senate.