Maryland FAMLI Registration Is Open: What Employers Need to Know
Maryland employers have an important new compliance item to add to their list: registration for the state’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program is now open.
While payroll contributions won’t begin until January 1, 2027, employers with at least one employee working in Maryland are required to register with the program. That includes employers headquartered outside the state with employees whose work is localized in Maryland.
What Is Maryland FAMLI?
FAMLI is Maryland’s new paid family and medical leave program. Beginning January 1, 2028, eligible employees will be able to receive up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave for qualifying reasons such as welcoming a new child, dealing with their own serious health condition, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or certain military family needs.
Benefits can be as much as $1,000 per week.
Employers can find an overview of the program and upcoming requirements on the Maryland FAMLI website.
What Do Employers Need to Do Now?
Register. There are no exceptions to the registration requirement based on employer size.
Initial registration must be completed by an Authorized Officer—someone legally authorized to act on behalf of the organization. Employers register using their federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), and only one registration is permitted per EIN.
Once registration is complete, the Authorized Officer can give others, including an authorized third-party administrator, access to help manage ongoing FAMLI responsibilities.
Employers can review the step-by-step registration guidance or register for FAMLI here.
What Happens Next?
Payroll contributions begin January 1, 2027. For 2027, the State Plan contribution rate is 0.9% of wages up to the Social Security wage cap.
Employers with 15 or more total employees generally split that contribution equally with employees, while employers with fewer than 15 total employees are responsible for remitting only the employee portion and may withhold that amount from employee pay. More information is available in the state’s employer contribution guidance.
Employers will also begin submitting quarterly wage and hour reports in April 2027 and will have employee notification requirements as implementation moves forward.
Don’t Wait Until Payroll Deductions Begin
There is still time before FAMLI contributions start, but registration is the first step. Maryland employers should take care of that requirement now and begin preparing their payroll processes, leave policies, and employee communications for the changes ahead.
SevenStar HR can help employers understand what FAMLI means for their business and prepare their policies and processes before the new requirements take effect.