HB 686, "Zoey's Law," increases penalties for drivers who flee police and cause death during the chase. It reclassifies causing death while attempting to elude police as a felony, raising the maximum penalty to 5 years for a first offense and 10 years for repeat offenses, with fines up to $5,000. The bill directly affects drivers who evade law enforcement and result in a fatality, replacing prior misdemeanor penalties. This change applies to all drivers who fail to stop for police signals (e.g., lights, sirens) and cause death, regardless of whether the driver was fleeing for a "crime of violence."
HB 183 would end Maryland's Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program by removing all related provisions from state law, including sections governing emissions testing and inspections. This repeal directly affects most Maryland vehicle owners, eliminating the requirement for biennial emissions tests and equipment inspections for vehicles from the 1977 model year onward. The bill specifically targets the code sections that established the program, including rules for testing schedules, waivers for repair costs, and exemptions for certain hybrid vehicles. If enacted, it would remove the state's mandatory emissions inspection requirement, which currently applies to most registered vehicles in Maryland.
HB 18 requires app-based ride services (like Uber or Lyft) operating in Maryland to pay drivers a minimum rate for passenger trips starting July 1, 2026. Drivers must receive at least $1.66 per mile, $0.40 per minute, a $5 minimum per trip regardless of distance, and additional pay for wheelchair-accessible vehicle trips. The minimum rates automatically adjust yearly based on inflation, using the Consumer Price Index, to maintain purchasing power. This bill directly affects drivers who provide transportation through digital platforms in Maryland, ensuring baseline compensation for their work.
HB 79, the Climate Solutions Affordability Act of 2026, modifies Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act to require certain climate measures "to the extent economically practicable." It mandates building owners to annually measure and report emissions data starting in 2025, with goals of a 20% emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2040 for covered buildings. The bill also requires school districts to transition to zero-emission school buses for new contracts starting in 2025, with limited exceptions, and includes prevailing wage requirements for contractors on utility projects. These provisions directly affect building owners, school districts, and utility contractors, focusing on measurable emissions reductions without mandating unaffordable actions.
HB 517 clarifies that counties and cities in Maryland can adopt stricter local emission standards or air quality rules than state or federal levels, provided their standards are equally or more stringent. It also confirms local governments retain authority to regulate solid waste management systems without being limited by certain state provisions. The bill requires the Department of the Environment to publish clear information about this local authority on its website by October 1, 2026. This law directly affects local governments seeking to implement more protective environmental regulations within their jurisdictions. It does not change existing state standards but removes ambiguity about local regulatory power.
HB 474, the "Clear Before You Drive Act," prohibits drivers in Maryland from operating or towing vehicles with accumulated snow or ice on exposed surfaces - including windshields, roofs, windows, and truck trailers - that poses a safety threat. It directly affects all vehicle operators, requiring snow/ice removal before driving, with fines starting at $25 for first-time noncommercial vehicle violations and escalating to $200 for repeated offenses. The bill also imposes higher penalties - $200-$1,000 for noncommercial or $500-$1,500 for commercial vehicles - if snow/ice contributes to accidents causing property damage, injury, or death. Key provisions mandate pre-drive snow removal and establish tiered fines based on vehicle type and offense history.
HB 593 amends Maryland's criminal law to specifically prohibit unauthorized actions intended to disrupt critical infrastructure or public safety answering points. It makes it a crime to intentionally access, copy data from, or possess access codes for systems like power grids, emergency call centers, or transportation networks with the intent to impair their function. The bill defines "critical infrastructure" as systems vital to public security, health, safety, or utilities, and explicitly includes ransomware attacks as a prohibited act. This law directly affects individuals who interfere with these essential systems, imposing criminal penalties for intentional disruption.
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 107 establishes a pilot program requiring drivers whose licenses face suspension or revocation for specific traffic violations (like speeding or reckless driving) to install and use an intelligent speed assistance system (which monitors and limits vehicle speed) during their suspension period. Participants receive a restricted license mandating the system's use, with fees required unless the driver qualifies as indigent. The program requires the Motor Vehicle Administration to certify service providers, set standards for the systems, and monitor compliance, with failure to participate resulting in continued license suspension. This pilot program applies only to drivers accumulating points for violations listed in the bill, such as speeding or failing to yield.
SB 156 requires that any freight train operating in Maryland on shared rail corridors with passenger trains must have at least two crew members. It directly affects railroad companies operating freight services, excluding light rail systems, rapid transit, and specific yard/utility operations. The bill takes effect only if neighboring states (New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia) enact similar laws by October 1, 2056, with implementation set for October 1, 2026, if the condition is met. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $25,000 for the railroad company. The law aims to establish minimum crew requirements for freight train safety under Maryland’s transportation regulations.
