By STEPHANIE STULLICH
Nearly 450 bills passed the Maryland General Assembly and were signed into law by Governor Wes Moore during the 2024 legislative session. In addition, the Metro transit system raised fares but largely preserved existing service levels. Here are details on some of these changes:
Motor vehicle noise, stop sign, drag racing, and speeding enforcement
Prince George’s and Montgomery counties were authorized to establish pilot programs for monitoring systems to enforce motor vehicle noise requirements. The counties will be required to publish the monitoring locations on their websites before activating these systems. [SB155/HB212] In addition, Prince George’s County was authorized to place stop sign enforcement cameras in school zones as a two-year pilot program. [HB364] A third bill increased penalties for exhibition driving and speed contests on highways, roads, and parking lots, including higher fines, points, and potential jail sentences. [SB442/HB601] Finally, HB513 increased the fine for speeding in work zones from the current $40 up to a range of $60 to $1,000, depending on how much the driver went above the speed limit and whether workers are present.
Increase in car registration fees
The cost to register a vehicle in Maryland will increase about 80 percent or more over the next two to three years, as part of an effort to close a projected $3 billion gap in funding for highway and transit projects. For a typical passenger car, the total registration fee will increase to $110.50 per year beginning in July 2024 and $120.50 in July 2025, up from $67.50 previously. Fee increases differ for trucks, larger-size vehicles, trucks, and other classes of vehicles; see revised 2024 fee schedule here. Vehicle owners will have the option to renew for a 1-year or 2-year period.
Revenues from vehicle registration fees are dedicated to the state’s Transportation Trust Fund, which is used to support state road maintenance, mass transit, and other transportation infrastructure. The total registration fee includes an emergency services surcharge that supports Maryland trauma centers, medevac services, and training for fire and rescue personnel.
Owners of electric vehicles will pay an additional registration surcharge that is intended to compensate for the fact that they do not pay gas taxes, which are an even larger component of revenues for the Transportation Trust Fund. This new surcharge will be $125 annually for electric vehicles (EVs) and $100 for plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs).
Home delivery of alcoholic beverages
A new local permit system will be created to allow home delivery of beer, wine, and liquor. Local licensing boards are responsible for issuing such delivery service permits to qualified applicants; the annual fee for each permit is $1,000. Such permit holders may deliver alcoholic beverages from licensed retailers; take orders via telephone or Internet; and use employees or contractors who are at least 21 years old to make the deliveries. Delivery recipients must provide valid identification that they are at least 21 years of age. [SB456/HB808]
Vaping and cigarettes
A new indoor vaping ban will prohibit vaping in certain indoor public areas, workplaces, and mass transit. This legislation is a revision to the Clean Indoor Air Act, which banned cigarette smoking in certain places in Maryland in 2007. In addition, the sales tax on electronic cigarettes and vapes will rise from 12 percent to 20 percent, while the sales tax on a pack of cigarettes will increase from $3.75 to $5.00.
Ticket scalping
New consumer protections for the sale of event tickets were enacted to ban the speculative sale of tickets. Electronic ticketing marketplaces must now be in physical possession of a ticket, own it, or be under contract to resell it, disclose the total ticket price at every step of the transaction, and provide a breakdown of included fees and taxes. [SB539]
Insurance coverage for hearing aids and cancer screenings
Insurance plans will be required to provide coverage for medically necessary hearing aids for adults if prescribed, fitted, and dispensed by a licensed audiologist. This benefit will become effective on January 1, 2025, augmenting a prior law that required this benefit for minor children. Insurance carriers may limit this benefit to $1,400 per ear every 36 months, but enrollees may choose a more expensive hearing aid if they pay the cost difference. [HB1339/SB778]
Another law requires insurers to cover certain breast cancer and lung cancer screenings. [HB1259]
Ban on legacy admissions in higher education
Maryland colleges and universities that receive state funding are now prohibited from considering whether an applicant’s family member either attended or donated to the institution when reviewing admissions applications. Legacy admissions received additional scrutiny after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action for underrepresented groups in college admissions in 2023, and the University of Maryland, among others, had already eliminated legacy preferences prior to the new state law. [SB543/HB4]
Military service members and families
Legislation championed by Gov. Wes Moore, who said that 2024 would be “the year for military families in the state of Maryland,” will allow private employers to grant a preference in hiring and promotion for spouses of service members. In addition, the state government must apply a credit of 10 points on any hiring selection test for eligible military spouses. [SB478/HB604] Another new law doubled the leave that state employees may use for disaster service or National Guard training from 15 to 30 days. [SB477/HB580]
Criminal justice
The state will establish an office for a correctional ombudsman to investigate alleged misconduct or prison abuses by the state department of public safety and correctional services and the department of juvenile services. This ombudsman may serve as a mediator in such cases, inspect prisons, and review physical and mental health care services in Maryland’s correctional system. [SB134/HB297] Another bill revised the rules for financial compensation for people who were wrongly convicted of a crime, including adjusting the amount of benefits for such individuals. [SB890/HB1086]
Metro fare increase
After months of negotiations amidst proposals to reduce service levels in response to a $750 million budget gap, Metro’s board of directors approved a 12.5 percent fare increase while largely maintaining existing service levels. The D.C., Maryland, and Virginia governments also increased their level of support. Base rail and base bus fares are rising from $2 to $2.25, while the maximum rail fare will go from $6 to $6.75. Late-night and weekend fares increased from a flat $2 charge to $2.25 or $2.50, depending on the length of the trip. Reduced fare programs for seniors (aged 65+), low-income residents, and persons with disabilities will continue to be 50 percent of regular fares.
