HB 1520 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Baltimore County and Baltimore City - Vehicle Laws - Lighting on Privately Owned Vehicles

HB 1520 allows up to five highest-ranking officers in Baltimore County and Baltimore City nonprofit volunteer emergency medical services (EMS) organizations to equip their privately owned vehicles with red or red-and-white lights. These lights may only be used while responding to emergencies or at an emergency scene, not during regular driving. The bill amends Maryland's vehicle code to explicitly permit this exception for volunteer EMS groups operating under commercial ambulance licenses. It directly affects volunteer EMS organizations in those two jurisdictions and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 19, 2025 Last action Apr 4, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Baltimore County and Baltimore City - Vehicle Laws - Lighting on Privately Owned Vehicles → Third - Baltimore County and Baltimore City - Vehicle Laws - Lighting on Privately Owned Vehicles · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to narrow its scope by specifying that the lighting authorization applies only to one particular volunteer emergency medical services organization (Hatzalah of Baltimore) rather than any organization meeting general criteria. This change limits the number of vehicles that can use emergency lighting to those operated by this specific group.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was narrowed from any nonprofit volunteer emergency medical organization to specifically Hatzalah of Baltimore.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed eligibility from any nonprofit volunteer emergency medical organization located in Baltimore County or Baltimore City to specifically Hatzalah of Baltimore.

Added requirement that the organization must operate under a commercial ambulance service license held by Hatzalah of Baltimore.

TIMELINE

Added committee report status showing favorable recommendation with amendments and adoption by the House.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Environment and Transportation

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors