Driver’s Licenses – Driver Skills Examination – Motorcycle Safety Awareness (D. Torch Road Safety Act)
SB 68 requires Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration to add at least five motorcycle safety questions to the driver skills exam for all new or upgraded driver's licenses. These questions will cover specific topics like motorcycle visibility, proper lane positioning, safe following distances, and crash prevention around motorcycles. The bill directly affects every driver's license applicant in Maryland who takes the skills exam, including those seeking motorcycle licenses. It becomes effective on October 1, 2026, without altering existing vision or road test requirements.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Sep 6, 2025
Signed May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
First - Driver's Licenses - Driver Skills Examination - Motorcycle Safety Awareness
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Third - Driver's Licenses - Driver Skills Examination - Motorcycle Safety Awareness
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3 edits
MINOR
The bill was formally adopted and amended to rename the legislation the 'D. Torch Road Safety Act' in honor of Donnell 'Torch' Floyd Jr. The substantive policy changes involve reorganizing the text of the law and clarifying the motorcycle safety exam requirements, specifically stating that the exam pool must include at least five questions on motorcycle safety, with at least one question appearing on every individual exam.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains focused on driver skills examinations for motorcycle safety awareness, but the legislative title has been updated to honor a specific individual.
TIMELINE
Added a committee report indicating the bill was favorably amended and adopted, with a second reading date of February 16, 2026.
SCOPE
Added a preamble honoring the life and legacy of Donnell 'Torch' Floyd Jr., renaming the act the 'D. Torch Road Safety Act'.
REQUIREMENT
Rephrased the motorcycle safety exam requirements to clarify that the question pool must contain at least five safety questions, and at least one of those questions must appear on every administered exam.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2026 · House of Delegates Apr 1, 2026
How they voted
46–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 49
Feb 18, 2026
D
Democratic36
94% Yea
R
Republican13
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
16
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 539
executive
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation
lower
Apr 1, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (135-0-7)
house of delegates
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Referred Environment and Transportation
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-0-3)
senate
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
upper
Sep 6, 2025
Introduced
Pre-filed
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Nick Charles
DDemocratic
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