SB 558 establishes Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Enhancement Program within the Department of Natural Resources. The program provides $2 million annually (starting fiscal year 2028) from the Transportation Trust Fund to fund oyster propagation and replenishment projects. These projects specifically offset damage to the state's oyster population caused by transportation activities at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore, including dredging, pier/bridge construction, and shipping channel maintenance. The funding must be included in the governor's annual budget bill. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 950 allows Maryland counties and municipalities to acquire street lighting equipment currently owned by electric companies through purchase or condemnation. It authorizes local governments to convert to customer-owned street lighting tariffs, contract for electricity and maintenance separately, and resolve disputes with utilities through the Public Service Commission. The bill defines key terms like "street lighting equipment" (including all infrastructure for street lighting except joint-use poles) and establishes a method to calculate the equipment's value for purchase. This directly affects local governments seeking greater control over street lighting costs, maintenance, and efficiency upgrades.
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Local Government
SB 649 requires owners of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment to clearly display business contact information (name, address, phone number) near charging stations. It mandates that all EV electricity sold at retail must be measured and sold in kilowatt-hours, and sets an annual minimum price determined by the Comptroller. Station owners may also charge separate fees for related services, such as fixed fees or time-based charges. The bill directly affects EV charging station operators by standardizing measurement, pricing, and transparency requirements.
SB 947 establishes a new Board of Directors to govern Baltimore Core Transit Service (including local buses, light rail, subway, and paratransit) within the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). It replaces the existing Baltimore Regional Transit Commission with this board, which includes five governor-appointed members (requiring representation from riders, accessibility users, transit providers, and union employees), plus mayoral and county executive appointees. The board will approve major service plans and policies for Baltimore transit operations, while the MTA must contract with the Baltimore Metropolitan Council to study creating a dedicated rail authority. This reform directly affects Baltimore-area transit users, MTA operations, and local government oversight of regional transit services.
SB 275 creates a new license category for manufacturers or distributors that sell *only* electric or nonfossil-fuel vehicles, allowing up to five such licenses statewide. However, it specifically restricts one of those licenses to operate *only* in the City of Bowie. This directly affects EV manufacturers/distributors seeking to open direct-to-consumer dealerships in Bowie without traditional dealership franchises. The bill amends Maryland’s vehicle licensing laws to require that no existing dealer holds a franchise from the applicant, and that no controlling ownership exists between competing EV dealers. It takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 90 allows Maryland counties and Baltimore City to create a special property tax rate for commercial and industrial properties - including mixed-use buildings - to fund transportation projects or school budgets. It requires counties to automatically exempt the residential portion of mixed-use properties from this special tax using public records, without requiring owner applications. The special rate must be in addition to the general tax rate, cannot exceed 12.5 cents per $100 assessed value total, and cannot apply to residential parts of qualifying buildings. This directly affects commercial/industrial property owners, particularly those with mixed-use properties, by modifying how their taxes are calculated for specific public funding purposes.
SB 106 would repeal Maryland's Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program, ending the requirement for biennial emissions tests and equipment inspections for most vehicles. This directly affects Maryland vehicle owners (primarily those with vehicles from 1977 model year onward) who currently must comply with the program. The bill removes all legal provisions related to the program, including testing requirements, waiver processes for repair costs, and certification rules for repair facilities. It does not create new requirements but eliminates the existing mandate under Maryland law. This repeal would end the state-level enforcement of emissions inspections, though federal requirements may still apply.
HB 486 designates November 14 each year as "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" to honor Ruby Bridges' 1960 integration of an all-white school, and the second Wednesday in October as "Maryland School Pedestrian Awareness Day" to promote safe walking routes to schools. The Maryland State Department of Education must provide free, age-appropriate resources to all public schools, including civil rights lesson plans for Ruby Bridges Day and pedestrian safety materials like lesson plans and walk audit guides for Pedestrian Awareness Day. The bill directly affects Maryland public school systems by requiring state-provided educational tools for these designated days, starting July 1, 2026. It focuses on commemoration and safety education without mandating specific school activities.
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.
SB 349 increases penalties for drivers who elude police officers and cause a death, reclassifying this as a felony. First-time offenders face up to 5 years in prison or a $5,000 fine, while repeat offenders face up to 10 years. The bill maintains existing misdemeanor penalties for eluding that causes bodily injury or no injury. It applies to drivers who fail to stop after a police officer signals to stop, whether the officer is in uniform or in a marked police vehicle.
