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.
*hb1236*
HOUSE BILL 1236
R5 5lr2791
CF 5lr2794
By: Delegates Arentz, Ghrist, and Jacobs
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Queen Anne’s County – Municipalities – Speed Limits 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing municipalities in Queen Anne’s County to decrease the 3
maximum speed limit to not less than a certain speed on highways without 4
performing an engineering and traffic investigation; and generally relating to speed 5
limits on highways in municipalities in Queen Anne’s County. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Transportation 8
Section 21–803(a) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Transportation 14
21–803. 15
(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) through [(5)] (6) of this 16
subsection, if, on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, a local authority 17
determines that any maximum speed limit specified in this subtitle is greater or less than 18
reasonable or safe under existing conditions on any part of a highway in its jurisdiction, it 19 2 HOUSE BILL 1236
may establish a reasonable and safe maximum speed limit for that part of the highway, 1
which may: 2
(i) Decrease the limit at an intersection; 3
(ii) Increase the limit in an urban district to not more than 50 miles 4
per hour; 5
(iii) Decrease the limit in an urban district; or 6
(iv) Decrease the limit outside an urban district to not less than 25 7
miles per hour. 8
(2) An engineering and traffic investigation is not required to conform a 9
posted maximum speed limit in effect on December 31, 1974, to a different limit specified 10
in § 21–801.1(b) of this subtitle. 11
(3) Calvert County may decrease the maximum speed limit to not less than 12
15 miles per hour on Lore Road and, except for Solomons Island Road, each highway south 13
of Lore Road without performing an engineering and traffic investigation, regardless of 14
whether the highway is inside an urban district. 15
(4) (i) This paragraph applies only to: 16
1. Anne Arundel County and Montgomery County; and 17
2. Municipalities located in Anne Arundel County and 18
Montgomery County. 19
(ii) A local authority may decrease the maximum speed limit to not 20
less than 15 miles per hour on a highway only after performing an engineering and traffic 21
investigation. 22
(iii) A local authority may not implement a new speed monitoring 23
system to enforce speed limits on any portion of a highway for which the speed limit has 24
been decreased under this paragraph. 25
(5) Baltimore City may, without performing an engineering and traffic 26
investigation: 27
(i) Decrease the maximum speed limit on a highway under its 28
jurisdiction; or 29
(ii) Increase to a previously established level the maximum speed 30
limit on a highway under its jurisdiction. 31
HOUSE BILL 1236 3
(6) A MUNICIPALITY LOCATED IN QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY MAY 1
DECREASE THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT TO NOT L ESS THAN 15 MILES PER HOUR ON 2
A HIGHWAY WITHOUT PERFORMING A N ENGINEERING AND TRAF FIC 3
INVESTIGATION . 4
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 5
October 1, 2025. 6
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.