EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0126*
SENATE BILL 126
R2, B1 4lr1222
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 198
By: Senators Augustine and Feldman
Requested: October 29, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Transportation – WMATA Operating Assistance – Alteration 2
(Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024) 3
FOR the purpose of repealing for a certain fiscal year a requirement that the Secretary of 4
Transportation withhold a certain percentage of the State’s share of annual 5
operating grants for the Washington Suburban Transit District if the State’s 6
operating assistance provided in the approved Washington Metropolitan Area 7
Transit Authority budget increases by more than a certain percentage over the total 8
operating assistance provided in the prior fiscal year; and generally relating to 9
operating grants for the Washington Suburban Transit District. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Transportation 12
Section 10–205(b) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Transportation 18
10–205. 19
(b) (1) Subject to the appropriation requirements and budgetary provisions of 20
§ 3–216(d) of this article and upon receipt of an approval of a grant application in such form 21
and detail as the Secretary shall reasonably require, the Department shall provide for 22
annual grants to the Washington Suburban Transit District for a share of the operating 23
deficits of the regional transit system for which the District is responsible. “Operating 24
deficit” means operating costs less: 25 2 SENATE BILL 126
(i) The greater of operating revenues or 50 percent of the operating 1
costs; and 2
(ii) All federal operating assistance. 3
(2) The Department’s share shall equal 100 percent of the operating deficit. 4
(3) (i) [For] BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2026, FOR any fiscal year 5
in which the total Maryland operating assistance provided in the approved Washington 6
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority budget increases by more than 3% over the total 7
operating assistance provided in the prior fiscal year’s approved Washington Metropolitan 8
Area Transit Authority budget, the Secretary shall withhold an amount equal to 35% of the 9
funds available under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection. 10
(ii) For purposes of calculating a budget increase under 11
subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the following items may not be included: 12
1. The cost of any service, equipment, or facility that is 13
required by law; 14
2. A capital project approved by the board of directors of the 15
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; 16
3. Any payments or obligations arising from or related to 17
legal disputes or proceedings or arbitration proceedings between or among the Washington 18
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and any other person; and 19
4. Any service increases approved by the board of directors of 20
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 22
1, 2024. 23