Maryland's Paid Leave Program Heads to TEDCO's 2026 Entrepreneur Expo

Maryland employers will get a direct line to the state's Family and Medical Leave Insurance program on October 27, 2026. TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies, announced that FAMLI representatives will be on site at the 2026 Entrepreneur Expo, taking place at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor.

The timing matters. Payroll withholdings for FAMLI begin with the first pay period of January 2027, and the first quarterly payment is due April 30, 2027. That leaves Maryland businesses a narrow window to register and set up compliance before the money starts moving. The program itself, administered by the Maryland Department of Labor, starts paying benefits on January 1, 2028.

The benefit structure is concrete. FAMLI will provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave annually, with benefits reaching up to $1,000 per week. Qualifying events include welcoming a new child, managing a serious health condition, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, and addressing family needs related to a service member's deployment.

The compliance burden falls on every employer with at least one employee in Maryland. All of them must register with FAMLI. There is one carve-out: employers with fewer than 15 employees qualify for a small employer discount that exempts them from the employer share of contributions. For startups and sole proprietors adding their first hires, that distinction could shape hiring costs heading into 2027.

State officials framed the Expo presence as a practical intervention, not a ceremonial one.

"The Entrepreneur Expo provides an important opportunity to connect directly with Maryland's business community, to ensure employers are ready for the launch of Family and Medical Leave Insurance," said Elliot Schreur, assistant secretary for FAMLI. "We look forward to helping employers understand how the program works and specific steps they need to take. Our team is here to support them every step of the way."

During the Expo, the FAMLI team will help employers with registration and answer questions from both employers and employees. One procedural detail deserves attention: registration must be completed by an employer's authorized officer. Attendees who plan to register on site should review the required information on FAMLI's website in advance.

TEDCO's leadership cast the partnership as a natural fit for an event built around the state's business community. Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO, tied the program directly to the Expo's core mission.

"The Expo is built around connection, learning and practical support, and FAMLI touches all three," LeMaile-Stovall said. "Every Maryland employer, from a startup with their first employee to a large, established company, has a role in this program. We're grateful to host the FAMLI team so founders and business owners can leave the Expo prepared."

The Expo itself has scale. The event attracts more than 1,170 attendees and brings together some of the region's top entrepreneurs, business owners, innovators, venture capital investors, legislators and resources for a full day. This year's program offers interactive workshops, discussions and dynamic pitches from emerging companies. TEDCO describes it as its award-winning celebration of regional entrepreneurship.

For employers, the calculus is straightforward. A mandatory state insurance program with a defined withholding start date of January 2027 is less than a year away from the Expo itself. The on-site FAMLI team offers a chance to complete registration, clarify contribution obligations, and understand the small employer discount before deadlines compress attention elsewhere.

Registration for the Expo is open at tedcomdexpo.cventevents.com/event/2026/register.

TEDCO, formally the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, says its mandate is enhancing economic empowerment growth through an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. The quasi-state entity identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Hosting the FAMLI team positions the organization at the intersection of its two audiences: founders building companies and the state agencies regulating them.

The so-what for Maryland's business community is a date on the calendar. Between the Expo on October 27, 2026, and the first withholding period in January 2027, every employer in the state with at least one employee must complete FAMLI registration or face the program's requirements unprepared.