Legislative Session 2025
Bills we SUPPORTED
** SB0044: Reckless and Negligent Driving - Death of Another - Must-Appear Violation (Sherry and Christian's Law)
Bill Sponsors: Senators Mary Beth Carozza, Dawn Gile, Mary Dulaney James, J. B. Jennings, Anthony Muse, Ron Watson, and Chris West
Committee / Hearing: JPR, Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 10:00am: 2/13/2025: JPR Favorable vote (Unanimous), Senate Floor passed: 45-0. Referred to House Judiciary 02/21/2025: See HB361 below. See HB744 & SB590 below.
** HB0361: Reckless and Negligent Driving - Death of Another - Must-Appear Violation (Sherry and Christian's Law)
Bill Sponsors: Delegates Robin Grammer, Lauren Arikan, Brian Chisholm, Mark Fisher, Ryan Nawrocki, and Kathy Szeliga
Committee / Hearing: Judiciary, Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 1:00pm: NO VOTE IN JUDICIARY COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER: March 28, 2025: The Judiciary - Public Safety Subcommittee voted to add HB361 & HB676 as amendments to HB883. See HB744 & SB590 below.
*** HB744: Motor Vehicles - Reckless, Negligent, and Aggressive Driving (Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act): Altering the penalties and points assessments related to the offenses of reckless, negligent, and aggressive driving; and adding certain motor vehicle offenses as elements that may contribute to charges for reckless or aggressive driving. FWA, House E&T: 22-0; House Floor: passed 138-0; Favorable Senate JPR: 11-0; Passed Senate: 46-0: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR: MAY 13, 2025
*** SB590: Motor Vehicles - Reckless, Negligent, and Aggressive Driving (Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act): Altering the penalties and points assessments related to the offenses of reckless, negligent, and aggressive driving; and adding certain motor vehicle offenses as elements that may contribute to charges for reckless or aggressive driving. FWA, Senate JPR: 10-1; Passed Senate: 44-0; Favorable, House E&T: 21-0; Passed House: 136-0: 46-0: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR: MAY 13, 2025
HB883: Criminal Law - Motor Vehicle or Vessel - Criminal Negligence: Prohibiting a person from driving, operating, or controlling a motor vehicle or vessel in a criminally negligent manner; and providing that driving, operating, or controlling a motor vehicle or vessel in a negligent manner does not constitute a violation of the Act. Committee hearing: 2/19/2025; Subcommittee: Public Safety - 3/28/2025; Bills HB361 & HB676 added as amendments
SB0397: Vehicle Laws – Protective Headgear Requirement – Exception (In Remembrance of Gary “Pappy” Boward):
Bill Sponsor: Senator Mike McKay
Committee / Hearing: Judicial Proceedings; Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 1:00pm: NO VOTE IN JPR COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
HB1008: Vehicle-Miles-Traveled Tax and Associated Mandated Devices - Prohibition (Transportation Freedom Act of 2025)
Bill Sponsors: Delegates Buckel, Adams, Arentz, Arikan, Baker, Beauchamp, Bouchat, Chisholm, Ciliberti, Ghrist, Grammer, Griffith, Hartman, Hinebaugh, Hornberger, Hutchinson, Jacobs, Kipke, R. Long, Mangione, McComas, Miller, M. Morgan, T. Morgan, Nawrocki, Otto, Pippy, Reilly, Rose, Schmidt, Stonko, Szeliga, Tomlinson, Valentine, and Wivell
Committee hearing: 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Ways and Means): NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
SB0557: Vehicle-Miles-Traveled Tax and Associated Mandated Devices - Prohibition (Transportation Freedom Act of 2025)
Bill Sponsors: Senators Ready, Bailey, Carozza, Corderman, Gallion, Folden, Hershey, Jennings, and McKay
Committee hearing: 3/06 at 1:00 pm, Budget & Taxation: NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
Bills we Monitored:
*** HB0018: Vehicle Laws - Noise Abatement Monitoring Systems Pilot Program - Inspection and Extension: Vote: Committee: 17-4 Favorable, House Floor: 102-35; referred to JPR: Favorable report by JPR 3/27/2025, 11-0:
*** HB0182: Motor Vehicles – Speed Monitoring Systems – Penalties: Vote: Committee: 17-6 FWA, House Floor: 101-37; referred to JPR: Favorable vote JPR,
*HB0234: Vehicle Laws - Injury or Death of Vulnerable Individual - Penalties: Vote: Committee: 21-0 FWA, House Floor: 136-1; referred to JPR 8-2, 3/26
HB0439: Vehicle Laws – Fully Autonomous Vehicles – Human Safety Operators and Reporting Requirements: NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
HB0635: Motor Vehicles – Secondary Enforcement and Admissibility of Evidence: NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
HB676: Boating Accidents - Duty to Remain at the Scene, Render Assistance, and Provide Information - Penalties: Judiciary hearing: 2/19/2025: March 28, 2025: The Judiciary - Public Safety Subcommittee voted to add HB361 & HB676 as amendments to HB883. - Got pulled back out as a stand alone bill; FWA House Judiciary, 22-0;
HB1008: Vehicle-Miles-Traveled Tax and Associated Mandated Devices - Prohibition (Transportation Freedom Act of 2025): NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
HB1457:Alternative Fuel, Fuel-Efficient, and Electric Vehicles - Highway Use Fees: NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
SB0014: Vehicle Laws - Electric Bicycles - Certificate of Title, Registration, and Insurance: Withdrawn by Sponsor
SB0045: Vehicle Laws - Manufacturers and Dealers - Alterations - Withdrawn by Sponsor
***SB0054: Motor Vehicles - Specially Designed Vintage Reproduction Registration Plates: Vote: favorable in JPR, 42-0 on Senate floor, referred to House Env & Transportation: Hearing 3/17/2025; Favorable, Senate JPR, 9-0; Passed Senate: 42-0; Favorable House E&T: 22-0;
*SB0101: Wicomico County - Vehicle Laws - Prohibition on Roadway Solicitations: Vote: Favorable with amendments in JPR, 45-0 on Senate floor, referred to Env & Transportation: Hearing 3/20/2025; FWA, House E&T: 22-0;
SB0118: Motor Vehicles – Speed Monitoring Systems – Penalties: NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER: JPR voted 3/26/2025, 8-2 FWA; Passed Senate: 37-10; Referred to Rules 04/02/2025
*** SB0121: Vehicle Laws - Noise Abatement Monitoring Systems Pilot Program - Inspection and Extension: Voted Favorable in JPR, Senate Floor: 44-0: Referred to House E&T: Favorable: 16-5, 3/27/2025; Passed House: 100-32: VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR
*** SB123: Boating Accidents - Duty to Stop at the Scene, Render Assistance, and Provide Information - Penalties: JPR Vote: 9-0, Senate Floor: 41-0; Judiciary: 22-0, House Floor: 138-0,
***SB0281: Transportation Equality for Service Members Act: Vote: JPR 11-0 FWA, EEE 11-0 FWA; Senate floor vote: 42-0; Referred to House Env & Trans: Hearing 3/27/2025; Favorable: House E&T: 22-0;
SB0292: Motor Vehicles – Secondary Enforcement and Admissibility of Evidence: NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
SB0322: Vehicle Laws - Obscured or Modified Registration Plates: NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
SB0385: Vehicle Laws - Manufacturers and Dealers - Alterations: NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
SB0405: Vehicle Laws – Fully Autonomous Vehicles – Human Safety Operators and Reporting Requirements - Bill withdrawn by sponsor
SB0557: Vehicle-Miles-Traveled Tax and Associated Mandated Devices - Prohibition (Transportation Freedom Act of 2025): NO VOTE IN COMMITTEE BEFORE CROSSOVER
* An asterisk indicates that a bill has made it through crossover and has been referred to the opposite chamber / committee for a hearing. Bills without asterisks will probably not proceed any further this session.
** Bills that got covered under another bill
*** Bills passed by both the House & the Senate