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Committee clears a long voting list: quick take on transportation, safety, broadband and local monitoring bills
Summary
The Environment and Transportation Committee advanced a package of bills on sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalk monitoring, non‑lead ammunition, TNR policy, EV charging rules and other measures; most passed with routine amendments and occasional recorded oppositions. A set of withdrawals and scheduling notes closed the session.
The House Environment and Transportation Committee concluded a long voting session on March 20, moving a slate of bills to the House floor with committee amendments. Highlights:
- House Bill 1504: Passed as amended and renamed the "Anne Healy Pedestrian Safety Act of 2026," honoring Delegate Healy’s work on traffic and bicycle safety. (Start: SEG 007; end: SEG 213)
- House Bill 972: Established a Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund with an annual appropriation included in committee wording; amended to honor the late Delegate Charles Otto. (SEG 214–415)
- House Bill 912: Adopted statewide trap‑neuter‑return provisions for community cats where jurisdictions opt in; clarifies that certain abandonment/neglect prohibitions do not apply to TNR caregivers. (SEG 415–452)
- House Bill 969: Requires electricity sold as vehicle fuel to be measured and sold in kilowatt hours and clarifies allowable service fees; passed with recorded oppositions. (SEG 452–503)
- House Bill 1400: Tightens grounds for suspension/revocation of shellfish aquaculture permits and establishes disposition processes for lease and gear; passed as amended. (SEG 509–539)
- House Bill 1219: Directed the University System of Maryland to study the relationship between climate change, homeowners insurance availability/pricing and emergency preparedness; report due 07/01/2027 as amended. (SEG 715–747)
- House Bill 1067: Phased in non‑lead ammunition by 07/01/2030 with availability exceptions; committee adopted amendments to the penalty schedule and implementation timing after debate. (SEG 1110–1226)
- House Bill 1037 and HB 1164: Both were converted to studies requiring the Public Service Commission to examine oversight feasibility for broadband and to report on limited‑income mechanisms for water/sewage companies; both passed as amended. (SEG 1227–1326)
- Transportation safety bills (HB 1381, HB 938, HB 1370): Ban parking in bike lanes with enumerated exceptions, authorize crosswalk monitoring systems in three counties, and authorize a stop‑sign monitoring pilot in Rising Sun; all passed with committee amendments. (SEG 1379–1562)
The committee also approved several withdrawals and scheduled another voting session for the following morning to consider remaining items. Most measures advanced on voice votes or with brief roll calls; where recorded oppositions occurred, the clerk read names into the record.
What happens next: Bills approved in committee proceed to the House floor. Committees noted the need for updated delegation letters for some local measures and for agencies to prepare implementing guidance where effective dates were delayed or studies required.
