SB 487 authorizes Maryland’s State Highway Administration and local jurisdictions to install speed monitoring systems in designated "safety corridors" - areas identified as high-risk for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. It updates existing traffic laws to clarify that penalties from speed monitoring citations (e.g., for speeding in these corridors) must be paid directly to local political subdivisions for uncontested cases or to District Courts for contested cases. The bill amends multiple sections of Maryland’s Transportation and Courts codes to integrate these systems into standard traffic enforcement procedures. It directly affects drivers receiving citations in monitored corridors, local governments implementing the systems, and courts handling related cases. The law focuses on operational details of speed monitoring, not broader safety outcomes.
HB 253 updates Maryland's rules for heavy-weight truck permits used by carriers transporting sealed international freight containers. It requires vehicles to stay under 100,000 pounds, follow specific routes between Seagirt Marine Terminal and authorized destinations, travel only during permitted hours, and adhere to speed limits set on the permit. The bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish permit fees, axle weight limits, designated "heavy weight port corridor" routes, and approved destinations. This primarily affects trucking companies moving international cargo through the Seagirt Marine Terminal. The changes would take effect on June 1, 2026.
SB 188 would increase the annual limit on toll-revenue bonds the Maryland Transportation Authority (MTA) can issue from $4 billion to $5 billion, effective July 1, 2026. This change directly affects the MTA, allowing it to finance new transportation projects or refinancing without legislative approval for existing bond-funded projects. The bill specifies that the $5 billion cap applies to the total outstanding principal of toll-revenue bonds as of June 30 each year, with adjustments for federal loans drawn under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. It does not alter how funds are used but expands the MTA's borrowing capacity for transportation infrastructure.
SB 149 establishes new rules for permits allowing heavy trucks to transport international cargo in sealed containers through Baltimore's Seagirt Marine Terminal corridor. It requires vehicles to weigh no more than 100,000 pounds, follow specific designated routes between the terminal and authorized destinations, travel only during permitted hours, and adhere to speed limits set by the Maryland Transportation Secretary. The bill directly affects trucking companies moving international freight by creating a formal "heavy weight port corridor" system with standardized weight, route, and timing requirements. The Secretary of Transportation will set permit fees, axle weight limits, and approved destinations through regulations, with the law taking effect June 1, 2026.
HB 229 proposes to increase the Maryland Transportation Authority's (MDTA) annual limit for outstanding toll-revenue bonds from $4 billion to $5 billion, effective June 30 each year. This change directly affects the MDTA, allowing it to issue more bonds to fund transportation projects financed through toll revenue. The bill also specifies that the $5 billion cap would be reduced by any federal loans or drawn lines of credit under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. The increase aims to provide greater flexibility for the MDTA to finance transportation infrastructure without requiring annual legislative approval for the bond limit. The bill is currently pending in committee after a favorable report.
SB 395 clarifies insurance requirements for peer-to-peer car sharing programs (like Turo) in Maryland. It makes the program's liability insurance primary coverage for drivers using shared vehicles, rather than secondary, and prevents insurers from canceling a vehicle owner's personal insurance solely because the car is shared. The bill also stops the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund from covering drivers for non-replacement vehicles used in sharing programs and allows programs to charge drivers for tolls or fines incurred during trips. These changes aim to standardize liability rules and reduce insurance complications for both sharing platforms and users.
This bill authorizes the installation and use of speed monitoring systems on U.S. Route 301 in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, specifically at or between the intersections of Maryland Route 405 and Maryland Route 19. The legislation defines these systems as devices that capture images of vehicles traveling at least 12 miles per hour over the posted speed limit and requires local government approval through a public hearing before deployment. It expands existing state law that currently allows similar systems on Maryland Route 200 and certain high-risk roads in Montgomery County to include this specific stretch of Route 301. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, and applies only to violations recorded by systems meeting the specified placement and operational requirements.
HB 1614 authorizes the Maryland Transportation Authority Police to use lane direction control signal monitoring systems on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to enforce violations of red lane direction signals. It requires District Courts to remit civil penalties collected from these violations directly to the Maryland Transportation Authority instead of the state. The bill amends existing traffic law sections to clarify that penalties from these automated enforcement systems must be paid to the Authority and that recorded images from the systems are admissible as evidence without authentication. This affects drivers using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge who enter lanes with red signals, enabling automated enforcement of lane direction rules.
HB 210 requires Maryland counties and municipalities with automated traffic enforcement programs (like speed cameras or red-light cameras) to submit quarterly reports to the Vision Zero coordinator. These reports must include specific details for each citation issued to out-of-state vehicles, such as license plate numbers, payment status, and whether the citation is past due. The bill, set to take effect October 1, 2026, creates a standardized reporting process to track enforcement against non-resident drivers without changing traffic laws or enforcement practices.
HB 55 modifies Maryland's vehicle laws to expand where speed monitoring systems (like photo radar) can be used in residential areas. It updates the definition of "residential district" to require properties along highways to be mainly residential for at least 300 feet and not business areas. The bill specifically authorizes these systems on highways in residential districts with 35 mph limits, school zones, certain roads in Prince George’s County, and high-risk crash locations identified in safety plans. Local governments must first approve their use via public hearing and local law. This affects residents in designated areas and requires new local authorization for speed monitoring enforcement.
