Maryland FAMLI Employer Registration Opens

Maryland has officially opened employer registration for its new Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. All employers with at least one employee working in Maryland must register, including employers headquartered outside the state whose employees regularly work remotely from Maryland.

Initial registration must be completed by an authorized officer who is legally permitted to act on the employer’s behalf. Third-party administrators, payroll providers, benefits administrators, and accountants cannot complete the initial registration, although they may assist after registration is complete.

Upon registration, employers are automatically enrolled in Maryland’s State Plan. Employers interested in offering a commercial or self-insured private plan may submit a Declaration of Intent no later than Nov. 15, 2026. Employers with an approved Declaration of Intent generally must escrow required employer and employee contributions for 2027 while seeking private plan approval rather than remitting those amounts to the state.

Employer registration is the first mandatory compliance step for Maryland’s FAMLI program. Organizations with Maryland-based employees should begin preparing for payroll deductions, contribution collection, employee communications, leave administration, and potential private plan implementation. Employers that intend to pursue a private plan should begin evaluating that option now to ensure they can meet Maryland’s Nov. 15, 2026 Declaration of Intent deadline.

Maryland’s FAMLI program has moved from planning to implementation. Registration provides employers with access to the state’s administrative platform and begins the process of preparing for payroll contribution requirements that begin Jan. 1, 2027. Employers should use the registration period to evaluate whether the State Plan or a private plan best supports their workforce, benefits strategy, and administrative goals.

Recommended actions:

• Complete employer registration as soon as possible.
• Determine whether to participate in the State Plan or pursue a private plan before the Nov. 15, 2026 deadline.
• Coordinate with payroll and benefits vendors to prepare for payroll deductions and contribution collection beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
• Provide employee notices at least one pay period before withholding employee contributions.
• Review and update leave policies and administrative processes before benefits become available in January 2028.
• Monitor additional guidance issued by the Maryland Department of Labor.
  
  

  Takeaways

  • Employer registration opened Sept. 1, 2026, and applies to any employer with at least one employee working in Maryland.
  • Out-of-state employers whose employees regularly work remotely from Maryland must also register.
  • Initial registration must be completed by an authorized officer. Third-party administrators, payroll providers, benefits administrators, and accountants cannot complete it, though they may assist afterward.
  • Registration automatically enrolls the employer in Maryland’s State Plan.
  • Employers pursuing a commercial or self-insured private plan must submit a Declaration of Intent by Nov. 15, 2026.
  • Employers with an approved Declaration of Intent generally must escrow 2027 employer and employee contributions while private plan approval is pending, rather than remitting them to the state.
  • Payroll contributions begin Jan. 1, 2027. Benefits become available in January 2028.