HB 386 modifies Maryland's funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) by requiring the Governor to withhold 35% of annual grants under specific conditions. It directly affects WMATA and Maryland's budget process, mandating that the Governor withhold funds if WMATA fails to submit required reports (like safety assessments and financial data) or if it doesn't develop a rail signaling workforce transition plan by July 2028. The bill also requires WMATA to provide detailed annual reports on safety, ridership, finances, and capital investments to trigger full funding. If WMATA receives a modified audit opinion without a corrective plan, or misses the workforce plan deadline, the Governor must withhold the funds until these conditions are met.
HB 256, the "Vulnerable Road User Protection Act of 2026," authorizes Maryland’s State Highway Administration and local jurisdictions to install speed monitoring systems in designated "safety corridors" to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users in high-risk areas. It amends traffic code provisions to create a new category for "safety corridor speed monitoring systems," requiring citations for violations to direct fines to the District Court (not local agencies) and mandating that collected funds support public safety programs like pedestrian safety initiatives. The bill specifies that local governments may recover implementation costs from fines but must use remaining funds exclusively for public safety, not general revenue. This directly affects drivers in safety corridor zones and local governments managing such systems.
HB 394 requires Maryland county school boards to annually identify areas where students live too far from school for bus transportation and list safe walking/biking routes (with sidewalks, crosswalks, or paths) for those students. County governments must then review these reports and construct necessary sidewalks and crosswalks to create these safe routes. The bill applies to all counties and mandates coordination with other entities if county-owned roads aren't sufficient. It directly affects public school students living beyond bus service distance and county governments responsible for infrastructure. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 421 authorizes Prince George's County to install and operate point-to-point speed monitoring systems on Maryland Route 210 (Indian Head Highway) within the county. The bill modifies Maryland law to require that penalties from speed citations issued by these systems go directly to the county (not the state) for uncontested cases, and specifies that collected funds must cover system costs and be spent solely on public safety programs like pedestrian or highway safety initiatives. It adds new language to the Transportation Article to formalize this process for the specific highway segment. The bill directly affects drivers traveling on MD Route 210 in Prince George's County and the county government, which would manage the systems and allocate funds.
HB 601 authorizes the use of stop sign monitoring systems in school zones within the City of Gaithersburg and the City of Rockville, expanding a pilot program previously allowed in Prince George’s County, Baltimore City, and Takoma Park. The bill requires local governments to approve these systems through local law after public hearings and mandates clear signage and public notice before implementation. It specifically limits the systems to school zones on local highways (for cities) or state highways (for the State Highway Administration), and defines "violation" as failing to stop completely at a stop sign. The policy change directly affects drivers navigating stop signs in school zones within these two cities during the pilot period.
SB 155 would allow bicyclists, play vehicle operators, and unicyclists to enter an intersection on a red traffic signal to cross the road when a pedestrian "walk" signal is active for their direction. This applies only after yielding to vehicles and pedestrians already in the intersection. The bill also clarifies that these operators have pedestrian-like rights while in crosswalks or on sidewalks, requiring them to yield to pedestrians and mobility device users. The law would take effect October 1, 2026, if passed. Currently, the bill is pre-filed and awaiting legislative review.
HB 733 requires the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to provide real-time audible and text-based announcements for all stops and critical information on every fixed-route transit service (like buses and light rail) starting October 1, 2026. This directly affects all riders using Maryland's fixed-route transit systems by mandating clearer, more accessible stop and service announcements. The key provision, added to Maryland law under Article Transportation §7-720, specifies that announcements must be both audible and text-based to ensure accessibility for all passengers. The bill focuses on standardizing communication without altering service routes or funding.
SB 458 authorizes local governments in Maryland to use automated crosswalk monitoring systems in school zones (if permitted by local law) to detect drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians. It requires drivers recorded violating this rule to pay fines, with penalties going directly to the local government for uncontested cases. The bill specifies how citations must be issued and handled, including options for drivers to contest violations in court. This applies specifically to school zone crosswalks where local authorities have authorized the monitoring systems.
HB 58 requires counties applying for state transportation funding to identify specific intercounty paratransit routes in their applications. These routes must connect elderly and disabled residents to designated healthcare facilities, including Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, and other major providers listed in the bill. Counties receiving funds must establish these routes and cooperate with neighboring counties to serve transportation needs across jurisdictional boundaries. The bill updates Maryland’s transportation code to ensure funding supports seamless access to healthcare for vulnerable residents through coordinated regional services.
HB 425 prohibits Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration from requiring drivers or license applicants to report a sleep apnea diagnosis. This bill amends Maryland's transportation code (Section 16-118) by adding a new subsection (C-1) that explicitly bans the Administration from mandating such notifications. The law directly affects individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea who hold or apply for driver's licenses. The key change removes an existing reporting obligation, making it unlawful for the DMV to ask about this medical condition. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
