Maryland Senate advances dozen bills on transportation, criminal law and consumer protections

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Senate on Wednesday adopted a series of committee reports and advanced multiple bills to third reading, taking formal steps on measures addressing transportation enforcement, criminal sentencing for certain drug and firearm offenses, toll payment plans and several consumer and local government matters.

The Senate, meeting in the State House chamber in Annapolis, adopted committee reports without recorded roll‑call votes for most bills and ordered many measures printed for third reading. Key items discussed on the floor included an escalated fine schedule for speed‑camera violations on Maryland Route 210 in Prince George’s County; changes to criminal penalties and sentencing discretion for certain cannabis and firearms offenses; and a requirement for the Maryland Transportation Authority to offer installment plans for unpaid video tolls once unpaid amounts reach $300.

The actions matter because they set the framework for final votes, change enforcement and penalty structures at the county and state level, and alter sentencing discretion in criminal cases. Several measures were identical to cross‑filed House bills, and many moved through the Committee on Judicial Proceedings and related panels with unanimous or unrecorded consent.

On transportation enforcement, senators considered Senate Bill 485 (cross‑filed with House Bill 349), which establishes an escalating penalty structure for speed‑monitoring camera violations on Route 210 in Prince George’s County. Committee amendments removed a proposed extension of the camera authorization and adjusted penalties; the amended report was adopted and the bill was ordered printed for third reading. During floor discussion senators raised constituent concerns about the camera locations and the current $40 flat penalty; the amended measure raises penalties on a sliding scale with maximum fines reported during floor remarks as ranging up to $425 depending on how far a driver exceeds the speed limit.

On criminal law, Senate Bill 925 (cross‑filed with House Bill 413) drew extended floor exchanges. As described on the floor, the bill removes mandatory minimum sentences for certain cannabis offenses and instead establishes maximums (discussed on the floor as up to 10 years in some sections), authorizes limited manufacturing of personal‑use cannabis products for people 21 and older, and revises penalty classifications for some firearms‑related theft and trafficking offenses (floor remarks indicated reclassification to felony for certain stolen‑firearm offenses). Sponsors said the change replaces fixed mandatory minimums with judicial discretion up to statutory maximums; the committee report was adopted and the bill was ordered printed for third reading.

On tolls, Senate Bill 941 (cross‑filed with House Bill 1465) requires the Maryland Transportation Authority to establish an installment payment program for unpaid video tolls and civil penalties. Under the amended bill a person becomes eligible to apply once they reach $300 in unpaid video tolls; the Senate adopted committee amendments and an additional floor amendment clarifying collection and fiscal impact details and ordered the bill printed for third reading. Senators said the Authority already offers limited payment plans and the change codifies and standardizes that practice.

The Senate also moved or approved favorable committee reports on dozens of other bills, most with little floor debate. Examples include Senate Bill 333 (expanding evidentiary provisions for out‑of‑court statements to forensic interviewers; ordered printed), Senate Bill 392/HB375 (bicycles, play vehicles and sidewalks; ordered printed), Senate Bill 912/HB1283 (authorizing Charles County regulation of off‑highway recreational vehicles; ordered printed), and a suite of House bills passed by the Senate committee for third reading on matters ranging from land records and common ownership communities to privacy protections for automated enforcement programs.

Votes at a glance (committee reports adopted / ordered printed for third reading unless noted): SB333 (criminal procedure, forensic interviewer evidentiary expansion) — amended report adopted; ordered printed for third reading. SB392/HB375 (bicycles, sidewalk default) — amended report adopted; ordered printed. SB485/HB349 (Route 210 speed monitoring penalties) — two committee amendments adopted; ordered printed. SB912/HB1283 (Charles County off‑highway recreational vehicles regulation) — favorable report adopted; ordered printed. SB925/HB413 (criminal law: cannabis and firearms sentencing and classifications) — favorable report adopted; ordered printed. SB941/HB1465 (MDTA toll installment payment program) — committee amendments and a floor amendment adopted; ordered printed. SB992/HB1171 (corporations and associations revisions) — amended report adopted; ordered printed. SB858 (public transit assault exclusion) — rereferred to Finance. Additional House measures advanced included HB1, HB123, HB343, HB516, HB528, HB809, HB39, HB259, HB445, HB616, HB4, HB124, HB292, HB315, HB347, HB755, HB788, HB796, HB752 and others reflected on the judicial proceedings and subsequent committee calendars; committee reports on those bills were adopted or the bills were ordered passed for third reading as noted on the floor.

Several nonlegislative items were also on the record: the Senate honored the Boonesborough High School “We the People” team with a unanimous resolution recognizing the school’s 10th consecutive Maryland state championship in the We the People competition; senators offered brief personal remarks remembering the Key Bridge crash anniversary and the recent death of local restaurateur Kostas Triantafilos; and the Senate announced committee meetings scheduled later in the day.

What’s next: Bills ordered printed for third reading will return to the Senate floor for final consideration in the coming legislative days; cross‑filed House measures will proceed through the House calendar. Where the Senate adopted committee amendments that alter penalty structures or funding, the final text on third reading will determine exact amounts and statutory language.

Ending: The Senate adjourned the session in honor of Kostas Triantafilos and scheduled its next floor session for Thursday, March 27 at 10:00 a.m.