EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW .
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0263*
HOUSE BILL 263
R1 5lr0724
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate R. Long
Requested: August 30, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Transportation Authority – Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge 2
– Naming 3
FOR the purpose of requiring that, on completion of a new bridge to replace the collapsed 4
Francis Scott Key Bridge, the Maryland Transportation Authority name the new 5
bridge the Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge; and generally relating to the naming 6
of toll bridges. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 4–408 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Transportation 14
Section 4–101(h)(1) and 6–209(c)(2) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Transportation 20
4–408. 21
ON COMPLETION OF A NEW BRIDGE OVER TH E PATAPSCO RIVER AS A 22
REPLACEMENT FOR THE COLLAPSED FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE, THE 23 2 HOUSE BILL 263
AUTHORITY SHALL NAME THE NEW BRIDGE THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY MEMORIAL 1
BRIDGE. 2
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 3
as follows: 4
Article – Transportation 5
4–101. 6
(h) “Transportation facilities project” includes: 7
(1) The Susquehanna River Bridge, the Harry W. Nice/Thomas “Mac” 8
Middleton Potomac River Bridge, the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Chesapeake Bay 9
Bridge and parallel Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, the Fort 10
McHenry Tunnel, the Francis Scott Key MEMORIAL Bridge, and the John F. Kennedy 11
Memorial Highway, together with their appurtenant causeways, approaches, interchanges, 12
entrance plazas, toll stations, and service facilities; 13
6–209. 14
(c) (2) An authorization issued under this section authorizes gaming on the 15
waters of the State only while the vessel: 16
(i) Is underway; 17
(ii) Is east of the Francis Scott Key MEMORIAL Bridge; and 18
(iii) Is operating under an itinerary that either originates or 19
terminates in a foreign port outside the continental United States. 20
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 21
(a) Section 2 of this Act is contingent on completion of a new bridge over the 22
Patapsco River as a replacement for the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. 23
(b) Within 5 days after the new bridge opens to vehicle traffic the Maryland 24
Transportation Authority shall notify the Department of Legislative Services. 25
(c) If notice of the opening of the new bridge is received by the Department of 26
Legislative Services on or before December 31, 2030, Section 2 of this Act shall take effect 27
on the date the notice is received by the Department of Legislative Services in accordance 28
with subsection (b) of this section. 29
(d) If notice is not received by the Department of Legislative Services on or before 30
December 31, 2030, Section 2 of this Act, with no further action required by the General 31
Assembly, shall be null and void. 32 HOUSE BILL 263 3
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That , subject to Section 3 of this 1
Act, this Act shall take effect October 1, 2025. 2