The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (which includes NC), as explained in this article,
struck down a Maryland law that requires private employers with 10,000
or more employees to spend at least least 8 percent of their total
payrolls on health care for employees. If they do not do this,
they have to pay Maryland the shortfall.
The Court held that the state law was preempted by federal law (ERISA).
The case is Retail Industry Leaders v. Fielder.
