EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0713*
HOUSE BILL 713
R2 2lr0434
By: Delegates Lehman, Pena –Melnyk, Forbes, Fraser–Hidalgo, Healey, Hill,
Kaiser, Love, Proctor, Ruth, Shetty, Terrasa, Toles, and Williams
Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2022
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 3, 2022
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – Horse Riding – Helmet Requirement for Minors 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting an adult from allowing a minor to ride a horse on certain 3
property unless the minor is wearing a helmet that meets certain standards; and 4
generally relating to helmet requirements and horse riding. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Transportation 7
Section 21–104 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND , 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Transportation 13
21–104. 14
(a) Every person riding an animal or driving an animal–drawn vehicle on a 15
roadway has all the rights granted to and is subject to all the duties required of the driver 16
of a vehicle by this title, except for those provisions of this title that by their very nature 17
cannot apply. 18
2 HOUSE BILL 713
(b) (1) Except in Charles, Worcester, and St. Mary’s counties, or as provided 1
in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may not ride an animal or drive an 2
animal–drawn vehicle on: 3
(i) Any divided highway where the posted maximum speed limit is 4
more than 35 miles per hour; or 5
(ii) Any controlled access highway. 6
(2) In Anne Arundel County, a person may ride an animal on any part of a 7
highway described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, other than on its roadway or 8
shoulder. 9
(C) (1) IN THIS SUBSECT ION, “HORSE” INCLUDES DONKEYS , MULES, AND 10
PONIES. 11
(2) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , 12
THIS SUBSECTION APPL IES ONLY TO HORSE RI DING ON: 13
1. A HIGHWAY; 14
2. A PUBLIC HORSE–RIDING PATH; OR 15
3. ANY OTHER PROPERTY OP EN TO THE P UBLIC OR 16
USED BY THE PUBLIC F OR PEDESTRIAN OR VEH ICULAR TRAFFIC . 17
(II) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A MINOR WHO IS: 18
1. PRACTICING FOR , RIDING TO OR FROM , OR 19
COMPETING OR PERFORM ING IN A SHOW OR EVE NT WHERE HELMETS ARE NOT 20
HISTORICALLY PART OF THE SHOW OR EVENT ; 21
2. CROSSING A PUBLIC HIG HWAY THAT SEPARATES 22
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND ; OR 23
3. ENGAGED IN AN AGRICUL TURAL PRACTICE OR 24
PURSUIT. 25
(3) AN ADULT WHO IS PRESE NT AND DIRECTLY SUPE RVISING A 26
MINOR MAY NOT ALLOW THE MINOR TO RIDE A HORSE UNLESS THE MIN OR IS 27
WEARING A PROPERLY S ECURED HELMET THAT M EETS OR EXCEEDS THE 28
STANDARDS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TESTING AND MATERIALS FOR 29
PROTECTIVE HEADG EAR USED IN EQUESTRI AN RIDING. 30
HOUSE BILL 713 3
(4) A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BSECTION INVOLVING A N ADULT 1
SUPERVISING MULTIPLE MINORS AT THE SAME T IME SHALL BE TREATED AS A 2
SINGLE VIOLATION . 3
(5) A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BSECTION IS PRIMA FA CIE EVIDENCE OF 4
NEGLIGENCE . 5
(6) A PERSON WHO IS CONVIC TED OF A VIOLATION O F THIS 6
SUBSECTION IS SUBJEC T TO: 7
(I) FOR A FIRST OFFENSE , A WRITTEN WARNING TH AT INFORMS 8
THE OFFENDER OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION; 9
(II) FOR A SECOND OFFENSE , A FINE OF $50; AND 10
(III) FOR A THIRD OR SUBSEQUENT OFF ENSE, A FINE OF $100. 11
(7) A POLICE OFFICER WHO C HARGES AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A 12
VIOLATION OF THIS SU BSECTION SHALL PROVI DE THE MINOR WHO IS THE SUBJECT 13
OF THE VIOLATION WIT H EDUCATIONAL MATERI ALS THAT PROVIDE INF ORMATION 14
ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION AND PROPE R HELMET USE WHILE 15
HORSEBACK RIDING . 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
October 1, 2022. 18
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.