1. (a)

   1. (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
   2. (2) “Eligible veteran” means a veteran, as defined in § 9-901 of the State Government Article, who has received an honorable discharge or a certificate of satisfactory completion of service, including:
   3. (i) a reserve component;
   4. (ii) the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service; and
   5. (iii) the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
   6. (3) “Employer” includes a county or municipal corporation.

2. (b) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, an employer may grant a preference in hiring and promotion to:

   1. (1) an eligible veteran;
   2. (2) the spouse of an eligible veteran who has a service-connected disability;
   3. (3) the spouse of an eligible active service member; or
   4. (4) the surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran.
3. (c) Granting a preference under subsection (b) of this section does not violate any State or local equal employment opportunity law.
4. (d) If an employer that is a county or municipal corporation chooses to grant a preference under subsection (b) of this section, the county or municipal corporation may adopt a local law that provides for the hiring and promotion preference before implementing the preference.

Added by Acts 2016, c. 318, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2016; Acts 2016, c. 319, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2016. Amended by Acts 2018, c. 586, § 1, Oct. 1, 2018; Acts 2018, c. 587, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2018; Acts 2024, c. 6, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024; Acts 2025, c. 5, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 6, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 142, § 5; Acts 2025, c. 272, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 273, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.