EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1176*
HOUSE BILL 1176
R5 5lr3311
By: Delegates Foley, Fraser–Hidalgo, Hill, and Spiegel
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Motor Vehicles – Plug–In Electric Drive Vehicles in HOV Lane – Termination 2
Date 3
FOR the purpose of extending the termination date of a provision of law that authorizes 4
certain plug–in electric drive vehicles to use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes 5
regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicles; and generally relating to the 6
use of HOV lanes by plug–in electric drive vehicles. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 25–108 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Chapter 121 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2023 14
Section 2 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
25–108. 19
(a) In this section, “HOV lane” means a high occupancy vehicle lane designated 20
by the State Highway Administration whose use is restricted by a traffic control device 21
during specified times to vehicles carrying at least a specified number of occupants. 22
(b) This section applies only to a plug–in electric drive vehicle that has a 23
maximum speed capability of at least 65 miles per hour. 24 2 HOUSE BILL 1176
(c) A plug–in electric drive vehicle for which a permit has been applied for and 1
obtained from the Administration under this section may use an HOV lane at all times 2
regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle. 3
(d) (1) The Administration, the State Highway Administration, and the 4
Department of State Police may consult to design a permit to designate a vehicle as a 5
plug–in electric drive vehicle authorized to use an HOV lane. 6
(2) The Administration shall charge a fee, not to exceed $20, for issuing a 7
permit under this section. 8
(3) The Administration, on the recommendation of the State Highway 9
Administration, may limit the number of permits issued to ensure HOV lane operations are 10
not degraded to an unacceptable level. 11
(e) On or before January 1 each year, the Administration and the State Highway 12
Administration jointly shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the 13
State Government Article, the General Assembly on the effect of the use of the plug–in 14
electric drive vehicle permits issued under this section on the operation of HOV lanes in 15
the State. 16
Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2023 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 18
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 19
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 20
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 21
enacted. It shall remain effective through September 30, [2025] 2030, and, at the end of 22
September 30, [2025] 2030, this Act, with no further action required by the General 23
Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act s hall take effect July 25
1, 2025. 26