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.
*hb0020*
HOUSE BILL 20
R2 3lr0442
HB 713/22 – ENT (PRE–FILED)
By: Delegates Lehman, Hill, Kaiser, Pena–Melnyk, Ruth, and Toles
Requested: September 22, 2022
Introduced and read first time: January 11, 2023
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 25, 2023
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – Horse Riding – Helmet Requirement for Minors 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting an adult from allowing certain minors to ride a horse on 3
certain property unless the minor is wearing a helmet that meets certain standards; 4
and 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 2022 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 20
(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 THE GROUNDS OF 17
A FACILITY FOR WHICH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS RECREATIONAL , EDUCATIONAL , 18
OR COMPETITIVE EQUES TRIAN ACTIVITIES. 19
(II) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A MINOR WHO IS: 20
1. PRACTICING FOR OR COM PETING OR PERFORMING IN 21
A SHOW OR EVENT WHER E HELMETS ARE NOT HI STORICALLY PART OF T HE SHOW OR 22
EVENT; 23
2. CROSSING A PUBLIC HIG HWAY THAT SEPARATES 24
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND ; 25
3. ENGAGED IN AN AGRICUL TURAL PRACTICE OR 26
PURSUIT; OR 27
4. A MEMBER OF AN AMISH OR A MENNONITE 28
COMMUNITY . 29
(3) AN ADULT WHO IS PRESE NT AND DIRECTLY SUPE RVISING A 30
MINOR MAY NOT ALLOW THE MINOR TO RIDE A HORSE UNLESS THE MIN OR IS 31 HOUSE BILL 20 3
WEARING A PROPERLY S ECURED HELMET THAT M EETS OR EXCEEDS THE 1
STANDARDS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TESTING AND MATERIALS FOR 2
PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR USED IN EQUESTRIAN R IDING. 3
(4) A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BSECTION INVOLVING A N ADULT 4
SUPERVISING MULTIPLE MINORS AT THE SAME T IME SHALL BE TREATED AS A 5
SINGLE VIOLATION . 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 7
October 1, 2023. 8
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.