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House advances bill setting response deadline for State Highway on speed‑camera requests
Summary
Lawmakers approved a bill that sets a statutory response period for the State Highway Administration on local requests to place speed‑monitoring systems along state highways; floor leaders and chairs clarified the measure establishes a 'shot clock' (deemed granted if the agency does not act within 120 days).
The Maryland House voted to approve Senate Bill 10, a measure that creates a statutory response deadline for the State Highway Administration when local jurisdictions request approval to place speed‑monitoring systems on state roads.
During floor discussion the sponsor and floor leader explained the bill does not expand where cameras may be placed but establishes a time frame for the State Highway Administration to respond. "It sets a shot clock...so that we have a specific time period by which they need to respond to the request from the local jurisdiction," the floor leader said. Members asked whether a failure to respond would constitute automatic approval; the committee chair indicated the bill imposes an expectation for response and later clarified that if State Highway does not act within 120 days the request is deemed granted.
The bill drew questions about local flexibility and whether the measure creates automatic approvals; the floor leader said more detailed implementation questions could be clarified in additional guidance or later statutory adjustments. The roll call recorded 98 votes in favor and 35 opposed, and the bill was declared passed.
Next steps for implementation include administrative procedures by the State Highway Administration and any local ordinances to operationalize camera placement where permitted by law.
