Starting January 1, 2027, Maryland is going to start taking money out of workers' paychecks for a new Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. Employees will lose up to 0.45% of their wages, on top of everything already withheld. For someone earning $75,000 a year, that's about $337.50 gone before they ever see it.

Here's the part that should bother every Maryland worker: you'll pay into this program for a full year before you can use it. FAMLI benefits, up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave for a serious illness or caring for a sick family member, don't kick in until January 1, 2028. The state says it needs that year to build up the fund. Workers just have to trust that the money is coming back to them in the form of a benefit they can't touch yet.

Many Marylanders feel blindsided by the timing. "I think it's unfortunate for a lot of people, they should have told us," resident Aaron McCain told WBFF. Resident Joseph Martorella put it simply: "Transparency is important. I think that our leaders should be straight with us." Meanwhile, Governor Wes Moore has touted a 2027 budget with no new taxes or fees, even as this new payroll deduction lands in the same year.

Maryland families deserve honesty about what's coming out of their checks and when they'll actually see something back for it. Governor Moore and the Maryland Department of Labor should either move up benefit access to match the start of deductions or clearly and publicly explain the year-long gap before it hits paychecks.

Sign this petition to demand Maryland delay FAMLI paycheck deductions until workers can actually access the benefits they're paying for.