HB 84 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Transportation – Major Highway Capacity Expansion Projects and Impact Assessments (Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2025)

HB 84 requires Maryland’s Department of Transportation to develop multimodal transportation programs (including transit, pedestrian, and bicycle improvements) alongside major highway expansion projects costing over $5 million. The bill mandates that these projects undergo assessments of their impact on greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled (VMT), with the requirement that the net VMT increase from the project and its offset program must equal or be less than zero. Priority for funding these offset programs is given to overburdened and underserved communities affected by the highway project, followed by regional and statewide benefits. The law applies to new major highway projects not already in the statewide transportation program by June 2025.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2024

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Nov 1, 2024 Last action Mar 24, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Transportation – Major Highway Capacity Expansion Projects and Impact Assessments (Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2025) → Third - Transportation – Major Highway Capacity Expansion Projects and Impact Assessments (Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2025) · 5 edits

MODERATE

HB 84 was amended to strengthen climate and environmental protections for major highway expansion projects. The changes add new requirements for impact assessments, increase the cost threshold for project coverage, and introduce new definitions related to system preservation and underserved communities. These modifications aim to ensure that highway expansions do not disproportionately increase greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled.

Scope change

The bill now applies to projects with costs exceeding $100 million instead of $5 million, significantly narrowing its scope to larger infrastructure projects. The definition of 'induced demand' was expanded to include increased demand for motor vehicle travel demonstrated by increased vehicle miles traveled due to roadway supply increases.

ELIGIBILITY

Increased the cost threshold for major highway capacity expansion projects from $5 million to $100 million, meaning fewer projects will be subject to the bill's requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for the Department of Transportation to perform impact assessments and post certain information on the Department's website before proceeding with major highway expansion projects.

Modified the multimodal transportation program requirements to focus on offsetting greenhouse gas emissions in addition to vehicle miles traveled, and to identify specific activities outlined in a new subsection.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'system preservation activity' and expanded the definition of 'underserved community' to include additional criteria.

TIMELINE

Added a new exemption for projects that completed the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act before June 30, 2025.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

100–37

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 139

Mar 5, 2025

D Democratic100

98 Yea 2

98% Yea

R Republican39

2 Yea 37 Nay

94% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Appropriations

lower

Mar 5, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (100-37-2)

house of delegates

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

First Reading Appropriations and Environment and Transportation

lower

Nov 1, 2024

Introduced

Pre-filed

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors