HB 475 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Transportation Equality for Service Members Act

HB 475 standardizes definitions across Maryland transportation laws to ensure all uniformed service members (including those in the Public Health Service and NOAA) receive equal treatment under existing transportation benefits. It updates key terms like "Uniformed Services," "Service Member," and "Veteran" to align with federal definitions, replacing narrower state-specific language. This change ensures transportation rules - such as parking privileges or toll exemptions - apply consistently to all eligible service members, not just traditional military branches. The bill does not create new benefits but clarifies how current transportation policies apply to all uniformed services.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Transportation Equality for Service Members Act → Third - Transportation Equality for Service Members Act · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add new sponsors and include a committee report indicating favorable approval with amendments. The bill's scope was expanded to include repealing and reenacting provisions in the State Government Article (Section 9-901) in addition to Transportation Article provisions. Several definitions were reorganized and moved between articles, with the State Government Article now serving as the primary source for key terms like 'Active Duty', 'Active Service Member', and 'Service Member'.

Scope change

The bill now affects both the Transportation Article and the State Government Article of Maryland law, expanding its scope beyond just transportation provisions to include broader definitions of military status and related terms.

SCOPE

Added new sponsors (Delegates Guyton, Healey, R. Lewis, T. Morgan, Ruth, and Stein) to the bill's sponsor list.

Added a committee report indicating the bill was favorably amended and adopted by the House.

Added repeal and reenactment of Section 9-901 in the State Government Article alongside existing transportation provisions.

DEFINITION

Reorganized definitions of military terms by moving them from the Transportation Article to the State Government Article (Section 9-901) as the primary source for definitions.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill's introductory language from 'repealing and reenacting' without amendments for some sections to 'with amendments' for others.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 16, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2025

How they voted

43–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 46

Mar 16, 2025

D Democratic33

30 Yea 3

90% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 263

executive

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 16, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (43-0-3)

senate

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation

lower

Mar 9, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (135-0-4)

house of delegates

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

First Reading Environment and Transportation

lower

7 primary · 0 co-sponsors