EASTON, MARYLAND — Annapolis just opened the employer door on paid family leave. Talbot payrolls are on the same clock.

Gov. Wes Moore announced Sept. 1, 2026, that employer registration for Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance program is live at paidleave.maryland.gov. The Maryland Department of Labor’s employer page is blunt: if you have at least one employee in Maryland, you must register. There are no exceptions under state law.

What the program buys later. When benefits open, FAMLI is designed to provide up to 12 weeks of job-protected paid leave — up to $1,000 a week — for a new child, a worker’s or family member’s serious health condition, or certain military-family needs. Contributions go into a dedicated fund that pays partial wage replacement. Employers may join the State Plan or apply for a private plan that meets or beats the state floor.

Money and maps for Shore shops. Under the State Plan, quarterly contributions come from employers and employees; employers may withhold up to half the contribution rate from workers. Employers with fewer than 15 employees qualify for the small-employer discount and do not owe the employer share of the contribution. The governor’s release says more than 80% of Maryland employers will qualify for that discount. Withholding on payroll starts with the first pay period in January 2027. The first contribution payment is due April 30, 2027. Job-protected paid leave begins in January 2028. Notice to employees starts in July 2027 under the Labor department’s employer rules.

Third-party payroll agents cannot complete the initial registration. An authorized officer must open the account; a TPA can help later under a power of attorney.