Recap: The 2025 Maryland Legislative Session
The 2025 Legislative Session ended on Monday, April 7th.
Every legislative session is unique. Severe budgetary challenges and unpredictability at the Federal level loomed over the 2025 Legislative Session. Each year Bike Maryland leads a coalition of local and national advocacy groups to advance bills that promote safety for people on bikes and other Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) such as pedestrians and people who use assistive mobility devices. We also work closely with staff at Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), State Highway Administration (SHA), Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO) and other state and local agencies. The breadth and effectiveness of this coalition continues to grow each year.
Despite this challenging legislative environment, several Bike Maryland-supported bills passed both chambers and now go to the Governor for signature! Thank you again to all of our members and partners who contacted your elected officials in support!
Passing legislation is often a multi-year effort. While other priority bills did not succeed this session, we are encouraged by the strong performance of several bills. Additionally, some bills that performed strongly last session encountered new obstacles this year. We will reassess our strategy and continue to work with our allies to educate legislators on the importance of this legislation.
Please stay tuned as we reach out for your support on these and other legislation in the 2026 Legislative Session.
Passed Bills
The Maryland General Assembly passed the following bicycle & VRU safety-related bills which now go to the Governor for signature
Bikes on Sidewalks (HB0375/SB392)
– Sponsored by Delegate Dana Jones & Senator Jeff Waldstreicher
This bill flips the State’s default to permit bikes on sidewalks statewide unless prohibited by local ordinance (which hopefully will be confined to very specific locations). The bill also requires people on bikes to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and people using mobility devices on sidewalks and in crosswalks.
We greatly appreciate the advocacy and persistence of the bill sponsors. This was the fourth year that Delegate Dana Jones sponsored this bill and second year that Senator Jeff Waldstreicher cross-filed a Senate bill.
Sidewalks and Bicycle Pathways – Construction and Reconstruction (HB628)
– Sponsored by Delegates Anne Healey, Ashanti Martinez, and Nicole Williams
The bill requires Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT ) State Highway Administration (SHA) to prioritize projects on, or along, streets subject to a complete streets policy or a similar Vision Zero program when determining funding for the construction and reconstruction of sidewalks and bicycle pathways in certain priority areas. Additionally, in those priority areas, the bill authorizes MDOT SHA to fully fund the cost to acquire the necessary rights-of-way for sidewalks or bicycle pathways projects, where MDOT SHA finds a substantial public safety risk or significant impediment to pedestrian access.
Graduated Speed Camera Fines (HB182/SB118)
– Sponsored by Delegate Vaughn Stewart & Senator Jeff Waldstreicher
This bill establishes graduated fines for automated enforcement of speed limits (i.e., $40 fine for exceeding the speed limit 12-15 miles per hour (mph); $70 fine for exceeding the limit 16-19 mph; $120 fine for exceeding the speed limit 20-29 mph; $230 fine for exceeding the limit 30-39 mph; and, $425 fine for exceeding the speed limit 40+ mph). Previously, fines were uniform, regardless of how much a driver exceeded the speed limit, up to $40. This is similar to the graduated fines in work zones enacted last year.
Additionally, the bill requires the MDOT SHA to convene a workgroup to study best practices for speed monitoring systems in school zones.
Local Bills
Montgomery County – Speed Monitoring Systems – High-Risk Highways (HB1173)
– Sponsored by Delegate Jared Solomon
This bill authorizes speed cameras on streets identified in the municipality’s, County’s, or State’s most recent Strategic Highway Safety Plan or Vision Zero Plan as having a high risk for crashes that result in serious injury or death. Fines collected in excess of the costs to administer the speed camera program must be used for the study, design, and construction of safety-related projects on the high-risk streets identified in the plans.
Prince George’s County – Speed Monitoring System on Maryland Route 210 (HB349/SB485)
– Sponsored by Delegate Kriselda Valderrama
The bill authorizes graduated speed camera fines on MD 210 (Piscataway Highway), consistent with the graduated fines authorized in HB182 discussed above. This bill took several years to pass both the House and Senate and will hopefully slow traffic on a road that has seen many crash deaths in recent years.
Baltimore City – Stop Sign Cameras (SB600/HB1226)
– Sponsored by Senator McCray
The bill allows automated enforcement of stop signs located in school zones in the City of Baltimore.
Bills that passed either the House or Senate, but not both
Bicycle Safety Yield (HB7/SB627)
– Sponsored by Delegates Regina Boyce and Vaughn Stewart & Senator Will Smith
As in other states that have passed similar legislation, we expect this will be a multi-year effort. This year, the bill experienced a setback, with the Senate Judicial Proceedings (JPR) committee voting unfavorable on the bill.
The bill passed in the House 126-11. However, as previously mentioned, the Senate JPR committee voted unfavorable on the bill 8-3.
We will continue to educate legislators and reassess our approach after the unfavorable vote in the Senate JPR committee.
A growing number of states (now 12) and Washington, D.C. have enacted “Bicycle Safety Yield” laws which permit cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs (also known as the Idaho Stop or Delaware Yield). This practice is counterintuitive to drivers but is proven to be a safer way for cyclists to cross or turn at stop signs. Cyclists have better sight lines and can cross faster and more steadily by continuing to roll if the intersection is clear and there is no approaching traffic. A moving cyclist is also easier for a driver to notice than a stationary cyclist.
The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a 2022 fact sheet and a more thorough analysis in 2024, which found evidence that bicycle safety yield laws can improve bicyclist safety at intersections. MDOT provided a support letter for the bill.
Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2025 (HB84/SB395)
– Sponsored by Delegate Mark Edelson & Senators Shelly Hettleman and Dawn Gile
The bill would create a significant and positive shift in how the State evaluates transportation projects. It requires MDOT and regional planning agencies to measure and mitigate any increases in climate pollution and vehicle miles travelled (VMT) caused by planned highway expansion projects costing over $5 million (amended during the session to $100 million). Mitigation actions could include expanding access to mass transit, building protected bike infrastructure, expanding remote work options or locating jobs and amenities near where people live.
The bill passed the House 102-37 with amendments. The bill was referred to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, but did not receive a committee vote.
A prior version of the bill nearly passed during the 2024 session, passing the House, and passing two readings in the Senate with time running out before a third and final reading in the Senate.
Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Enhanced Safety Bill (HB234/SB385)
– Sponsored by Delegate Dana Stein & Senator Sarah Love
This bill would promote greater consistency in Maryland traffic law with respect to penalties for crashes involving the serious injury or death of vulnerable road users. The bill would update the Vulnerable Road User law the General Assembly passed in 2021 to include additional penalties that were included under the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Memorial Act, which passed last session and exists also in the law protecting pedestrians in a crosswalk, adding the penalties of imprisonment not exceeding 2 months or a fine not exceeding $2,000, or both.
The House passed the bill with amendments 137-0. The bill was referred to the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee, but did not receive a committee vote.
No Stopping, Standing, or Parking in a Bike Lane (HB178/SB133)
– Sponsored by Delegate Michele Guyton & Senator Anthony Muse
This common sense bill would add bike lanes to the list of places where stopping, standing, or parking a motor vehicle is prohibited.
The bill passed the House 120-15 with amendments. Unfortunately, one of the amendments undermined the purpose of the bill and would have allowed drivers to stop, stand, or park in a bike lane for up to 30 minutes to pick up or deliver goods. The bill was referred to the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee, but did not receive a committee vote.
Bicyclist Safety Start (HB422)
– Sponsored by Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr
This bill would allow bicyclists in a travel lane to proceed when the WALK signal in their direction illuminates, including on a leading pedestrian interval. Intersections with a leading pedestrian interval show the walk signal several seconds before the traffic light turns green. This improves safety by increasing visibility of crossing pedestrians, reducing conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles, increasing the likelihood of motorists yielding to pedestrians, and enhancing safety for pedestrians who may be slower to start into the intersection. This bill would allow people on bikes to use leading pedestrian intervals (i.e., walk signal).
The House passed the bill 133-0. Since the House passed the bill after Crossover Day, the deadline by which a bill must pass either the House or Senate to guarantee a committee hearing in the other chamber, the bill was referred to the Senate Rules Committee, but did not proceed further before the end of the session.
Urban State Highways – Speed Limits – Exemptions (HB780)
– Sponsored by Delegate Kenneth Kerr & Senator Michael A. Jackson
This bill would allow MDOT SHA to decrease the speed limit by 5 mph on certain urban State highways without an engineering and traffic study.
The House passed the bill with amendments 101-33. The bill was referred to the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee, but did not receive a committee vote.
Motor Vehicles – Speed Monitoring Systems – Safety Corridors (HB348/SB520)
– Sponsored by Delegate Vaughn Stewart & Senator Nick Charles
This bill would allow MDOT SHA to use speed cameras to enforce speed limits in areas determined to be of high risk to vulnerable road users and priority corridors in MDOT SHA’’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP).
The House passed the bill 104-35. The bill was referred to the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee, but did not receive a committee vote.
Local Bills
Montgomery County – Highways – Maximum Speed Limits (HB963)
– Sponsored by Delegate David Moon
This bill would authorize Montgomery County, or a municipality in Montgomery County, to decrease the speed limit without a traffic study.
The House passed the bill 121-18. The bill was referred to the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee, but did not receive a committee vote.
Prince George’s County – Stop Sign Monitoring Systems – School Bus Stops (SB808)
– Sponsored by Senator Malcolm Augistine
This bill would allow stop sign cameras within 100 feet of school bus stops in Prince George’s County.
The Senate passed the bill 36-11. Since the Senate passed the bill after Crossover Day, the deadline by which a bill must pass either the House or Senate to guarantee a committee hearing in the other chamber, the bill was referred to the House Rules Committee. It was then assigned to the House Environment and Transportation (ENT) Committee shortly before the legislative session ended, running out of time to receive a committee hearing or vote.
Bills that did not pass either the House or Senate
Civil Actions – Motor Vehicle Accidents Involving Vulnerable Individuals – Comparative Negligence (HB594)
– Sponsor Delegate Elizabeth Embry
Maryland is only one of four states, plus Washington, D.C. (which has an exception for vulnerable road users), that follow the contributory negligence legal doctrine. Under contributory negligence, if a plaintiff (i.e., the injured party) is found to have contributed to their own harm or injury, they cannot recover any damages from the defendant, regardless of the defendant’s negligence.
Example: Under contributory negligence, a driver could be found 99% at fault for a crash that injured a person on a bicycle. However, if the bicyclist is found to be 1% at fault for the crash that caused their injury, the bicyclist would be barred from recovering any damages (i.e., compensation) from the driver.
This bill would create an exception for vulnerable road users (VRU) injured by a negligent driver similar to a statute enacted in D.C. An injured VRU could collect damages, reduced by the negligence/fault attributed to the VRU. Using the example above, under this bill, an injured VRU found to be 1% at fault could recover 99% of damages.
E-bike titling, registration, and insurance (SB14)
– Sponsored by Senator Johnny Ray Salling
Bike Maryland opposed this bill.
This bill would require electric bicycles owners to title and register their e-bikes with the Motor Vehicle Administration and obtain liability insurance.
The bill sponsor withdrew the bill following a hearing with the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee.
Safe Alternative Routes to Public Schools (HB811/SB526)
– Sponsored by Delegates Delegates Terrasa, Charkoudian, Feldmark, Kaufman, R. Lewis, Patterson, and Ziegler & Senators Aruthur Ellis and Karen Lewis Young
This bill would require local school boards to prepare an annual report for each school that has students that must walk to school (i.e., students not provided transportation by the school district). The report must identify the safe alternative routes to school (i.e., roads with sidewalks and crosswalks at intersections, bike paths, and footpaths) those students can use to reach the school. The bill would require publication of the report on the county’s website. The bill would also require counties to build sidewalks and install crosswalks to fill gaps in the safe alternative routes students need to reach their schools.
Transportation Investment Priorities Act of 2025 (HB20/SB198)
The bill, requested by MDOT, would change many aspects of the planning process for state transportation projects, including the required elements, information requested from local jurisdictions, and scoring used to prioritize transportation projects and develop the Consolidated Transportation Program and Maryland Transportation Plan.
Motor Vehicles – Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program – Establishment (HB1139/SB993)
-Sponsored by Delegate Nick Allen & Senator William Folden
This bill would establish a pilot program, which would require drivers who have their licenses suspended or revoked for speeding or reckless driving offenses to install and use an intelligent speed assistance system.
This year, Virginia became the first state to pass a law allowing judges to require the installation of intelligent speed assistance systems for certain speeding offences. Those intelligent speed assistance systems would prevent drivers from travelling more than 10 mph above the posted speed limit.
Local Bills
Montgomery County and Prince George’s County – Distracted Driving Monitoring System Pilot Program (HB908/SB613)
– Sponsored by Delegates Linda Foley and Kent Roberson & Senators Michael A. Jackson and Jeff Waldstreicher
The bill would authorize a pilot program of automated enforcement of distracted driving laws in Montgomery and Prince George’s County.
Budget
Maryland faced an incredibly challenging budget this year. The Governor and Maryland General Assembly raised taxes and cut spending to address a $3 billion budget deficit. The House of Delegates and Senate passed a budget and a budget reconciliation bill on the last day of the legislative session. Bike Maryland and several coalition organizations participated in the Move Maryland group which successfully advocated for transportation funding.
