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.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
*hb0517*
HOUSE BILL 517
R2 (5lr1146)
ENROLLED BILL
— Environment and Transportation and Appropriations/Budget and Taxation and
Finance —
Introduced by Delegates Korman and Solomon, Solomon, and Spiegel
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for hi s approval this
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Transportation – Maryland Area Rail Commuter Rail Authority – Establishment 2
(MARC Rail Authority Act of 2025) 3
Workgroup on the Reorganization of the Maryland Transit Administration 4
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) Rail Authority 5
and the powers and duties of the MARC Rail Authority, acting on behalf of the 6
Department of Transportation, has with respect to the supervision, construction, 7
operation, maintenance, and repair of MARC railroad facilities projects; and 8
generally relating to the establishment of the Maryland Area Rail Commuter 9
(MARC) Rail Authority the Workgroup on the Reorganization of the Maryland 10
Transit Administration to study reorganizing the Maryland Transit Administration; 11
and generally relating to the Workgroup on the Reorganization of the Maryland 12
Transit Administration. 13
2 HOUSE BILL 517
BY adding to 1
Article – Transportation 2
Section 7–1301 through 7–1310 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 13. Maryland 3
Area Rail Commuter (MARC) Rail Authority” 4
Annotated Code of Maryland 5
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 6
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 8
Article – Transportation 9
SUBTITLE 13. MARYLAND AREA RAIL COMMUTER (MARC) RAIL AUTHORITY. 10
7–1301. 11
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 12
INDICATED. 13
(B) “MARC” MEANS MARYLAND AREA RAIL COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE . 14
(C) “MARC RAILROAD FACILITIES PROJECT” INCLUDES: 15
(1) (I) THE BRUNSWICK, CAMDEN, OR PENN LINES OF THE 16
MARYLAND AREA RAIL COMMUTER (MARC) SERVICE; AND 17
(II) EXTENDING MARC SERVICE; AND 18
(2) ANY ADDITIONS, IMPROVEMENTS , OR ENLARGEMENTS TO A NY OF 19
THE PROJECTS LISTED UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , WHENEVER 20
AUTHORIZED . 21
7–1302. 22
THERE IS A MARC RAIL AUTHORITY. 23
7–1303. 24
(A) (1) THE SECRETARY IS THE CHAI R OF THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY. 25
(2) THE SECRETARY SHALL DESIG NATE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 26
OF THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY. 27
(B) IN ADDITION TO THE CH AIR, THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY CONSISTS OF 28
THE FOLLOWING MEMBER S: 29 HOUSE BILL 517 3
(1) (I) ONE MEMBER WITH A BAC KGROUND IN RAIL TRAN SIT, 1
APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; AND 2
(II) ONE MEMBER WITH A BAC KGROUND IN RAIL TRAN SIT, 3
APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; AND 4
(2) AS AN EX OFFICIO MEMB ER, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 5
MARC RAIL AUTHORITY. 6
(C) (1) THE TERM OF AN APPOINTED MEMBER IS 4 YEARS. 7
(2) AN APPOINTED MEMBER M AY NOT SERVE MORE TH AN THREE 8
CONSECUTIVE TERMS . 9
(3) AT THE END OF A TERM , A MEMBER CONTINUES T O SERVE UNTIL 10
A SUCCESSOR IS APPOI NTED AND QUALIFIES . 11
(4) A MEMBER WHO IS APPOIN TED AFTER A TERM HA S BEGUN SERVES 12
ONLY FOR THE REST OF THE TERM AND UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINT ED AND 13
QUALIFIES. 14
(D) AN APPOINTED MEMBER O F THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY IS ENTITLED 15
TO: 16
(1) THE COMPENSATION PROV IDED IN THE STATE BUDGET ; AND 17
(2) REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXP ENSES UNDER THE STANDARD STATE 18
TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 19
(E) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY IS SUBJECT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS 20
ACT UNDER TITLE 3 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE. 21
7–1304. 22
(A) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY IS ENTITLED TO THE STAFF PROVIDED IN 23
THE STATE BUDGET . 24
(B) THE SECRETARY SHALL PROVI DE THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY WITH 25
THE PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE SECRETARY CONSIDERS 26
NECESSARY FOR PERFOR MANCE OF THE MAINTEN ANCE AND OTHER FUNCT IONS 27
REQUIRED OF THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY TO MEET ITS OBLIGATI ONS WITH 28
RESPECT TO ITS MARC RAILROAD FACILITIES PROJECTS. 29
4 HOUSE BILL 517
7–1305. 1
(A) (1) ACTING ON BEHALF OF T HE DEPARTMENT , THE MARC RAIL 2
AUTHORITY HAS THOSE P OWERS AND DUTIES REL ATING TO THE SUPERVI SION, 3
FINANCING, CONSTRUCTION , OPERATION, MAINTENANCE , AND REPAIR OF MARC 4
RAILROAD FACILITIES PROJECTS AS ARE GRAN TED TO IT BY THIS SU BTITLE. 5
(2) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY MAY : 6
(I) DELEGATE PROJECT OPER ATIONS, MAINTENANCE , AND 7
REPAIR TO THE ADMINISTRATION ; AND 8
(II) USE FARE REVENUE TO PROVIDE THE ADMINISTRATION 9
WITH PAYMENTS FOR PR OJECT OPERATIONS , MAINTENANCE , AND REPAIR. 10
(B) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY HAS GENERAL SUPERVISION OF MARC 11
RAILROAD FACILITIES PROJECTS. 12
(C) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY SHALL FINAN CE, CONSTRUCT, OPERATE, 13
REPAIR, AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD ORDER THE MARC RAILROAD FACILITIES . 14
(D) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY SHALL , TO THE EXTENT PRACTI CABLE, 15
ADHERE TO THE TRANSI T PLANS PREPARED UND ER SUBTITLE 3 OF THIS TITLE. 16
7–1306. 17
(A) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY MAY ACQUIRE , HOLD, AND DISPOSE OF 18
PROPERTY IN THE EXER CISE OF ITS POWERS A ND PERFORMANCE OF IT S DUTIES. 19
(B) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY MAY MAKE AN Y CONTRACTS AND 20
AGREEMENTS NECESSARY OR INCIDENTAL TO THE EXERCISE OF ITS POWE RS AND 21
PERFORMANCE OF ITS D UTIES. 22
(C) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY MAY APPLY F OR AND RECEIVE GRANT S 23
FROM ANY FEDERAL AGE NCY FOR THE PLANNING , CONSTRUCTION , OPERATION, OR 24
FINANCING OF ANY PAS SENGER RAIL OR TRANS IT PROJECT AND MAY R ECEIVE AID 25
OR CONTRIBUTIONS OF MONEY, PROPERTY, LABOR, OR OTHER THINGS OF V ALUE 26
FROM ANY SOURCE , TO BE HELD, USED, AND APPLIED FOR THE PURPOSES FOR 27
WHICH THE GRANTS , AID, AND CONTRIBUTIONS AR E MADE. 28
(D) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY MAY ADOPT R ULES AND REGULATIONS TO 29
CARRY OUT THE PROVIS IONS OF THIS SUBTITL E. 30
HOUSE BILL 517 5
(E) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY MA Y DO ANYTHING ELSE N ECESSARY OR 1
CONVENIENT TO CARRY OUT THE POWERS GRANT ED IN THIS SUBTITLE . 2
7–1307. 3
SUBJECT TO TITLE 12 OF THE REAL PROPERTY ARTICLE AND CHAPTER 608 4
OF THE ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 1976, THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY 5
MAY CONDEMN PROPERTY FOR ANY MARC RAILROAD FACILITIES PROJECT. 6
7–1308. 7
THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY MAY CONTRAC T WITH THE ADMINISTRATION 8
TO AUTHORIZE ADMINISTRATION POLICE OFFICERS TO EXERCISE THE POWERS 9
DESCRIBED UNDER § 7–207 OF THIS TITLE ON PRO PERTY OWNED , LEASED, OR 10
OPERATED BY OR UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY. 11
7–1309. 12
(A) THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY SHALL MAKE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE O N 13
ITS WEBSITE: 14
(1) EACH OPEN MEETING AGE NDA: 15
(I) AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF EACH MEETING ; OR 16
(II) IF THE MEETING IS BEING HEL D DUE TO AN EMERGENC Y, A 17
NATURAL DISASTER , OR ANY OTHER UNANTIC IPATED SITUATION , AS FAR IN 18
ADVANCE OF THE MEETI NG AS PRACTICABLE ; 19
(2) MEETING MINUTES FROM THE PORTIONS OF A ME ETING THAT 20
WERE HELD IN OPEN SE SSION, NOT MORE THAN 2 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE 21
MINUTES ARE APPROVED ; 22
(3) LIVE VIDEO STREAMING OF EACH OPEN MEETING OF THE MARC 23
RAIL AUTHORITY THAT IS HEL D AT: 24
(I) THE HEADQUARTERS OF T HE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY; OR 25
(II) ANY OTHER LOCATION WH ERE THE MARC RAIL 26
AUTHORITY HAS HELD AT LEAST 10 MEETINGS DURING THE IMMEDIATELY 27
PRECEDING CALENDAR Y EAR; AND 28
(4) A COMPLETE AND UNEDITE D ARCHIVED VIDEO REC ORDING OF 29
EACH OPEN MEETING FO R WHICH LIVE VIDEO S TREAMING WAS MADE AV AILABLE 30 6 HOUSE BILL 517
UNDER ITEM (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION F OR A MINIMUM OF 5 YEARS AFTER THE DATE 1
OF THE MEETING . 2
(B) THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SHALL PROV IDE TO 3
THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY THE TECHNIC AL STAFF, SUPPORT, AND EQUIPMENT 4
NECESSARY TO LIVESTR EAM THE OPEN MEETING S OF THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY. 5
7–1310. 6
(A) ON AN ANNUAL BASIS , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ALLO CATE TO THE 7
MARC RAIL AUTHORITY THE REVENUE NEEDED TO SUPPORT TH E MARC 8
OPERATING AND CAPITA L BUDGETS. 9
(B) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 10
MARC FARES AND ANY OTHER REVENUE FROM CHARG ES IMPOSED FOR MARC 11
SERVICE MAY BE USED ONLY TO SUPPORT THE MARC RAIL AUTHORITY. 12
(2) TO THE EXTENT REQUIRE D UNDER FINANCING AG REEMENTS 13
UNDER TITLE 4, SUBTITLE 3 OF THIS ARTICLE ENTE RED INTO ON OR BEFOR E 14
OCTOBER 1, 2024, MARC FARES AND ANY OTHER REVENUE FROM CHARGES 15
IMPOSED FOR MARC SERVICE SHALL CONTIN UE TO SUPPORT THOSE EXISTING 16
INSTRUMENTS AND OBLI GATIONS. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland Department of 18
Transportation shall transition all MARC operations and contracts to the MARC Rail 19
Authority to the extent permissible by such agreements. 20
(a) There is a Workgroup on the Reorganization of the Maryland Transit 21
Administration. 22
(b) The Workgroup consists of the following members: 23
(1) the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, or the Chair’s designee; 24
(2) the Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee, or the 25
Chair’s designee; 26
(3) the Chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee, or the Chair’s 27
designee; 28
(4) the Chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee’s Public Safety, 29
Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee, or the Chair’s designee; 30
(5) the Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary’s designee; 31
HOUSE BILL 517 7
(6) the Maryland Transit Administrator, or the Administrator’s designee; 1
(7) the Chair of the Baltimore Region Transit Commission, or the Chair’s 2
designee; and 3
(8) a representative of the local metropolitan planning organization for 4
Baltimore City, designated by the organization; and 5
(9) two members who regularly use MTA serv ices, appointed by the 6
Governor. 7
(c) The Secretary of Transportation shall designate the chair of the Workgroup. 8
(d) The Department of Legislative Services and the Department of Transportation 9
shall provide staff for the Workgroup. 10
(e) A member of the Workgroup: 11
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Workgroup; but 12
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 13
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 14
(f) The Workgroup shall: 15
(1) study issues relating to a reorganization of the potential for 16
reorganizing the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transit 17
Administration, including: 18
(i) options for allowing the Administration to continue providing 19
local Baltimore City transit services, including light rail, subway, and bus services and the 20
creation of a new unit or reorganization of the Office of the Secretary to provide statewide 21
transit services; 22
(ii) the current contractual obligations and agreements of the 23
Administration and the process necessary steps to transfer the obligations and agreements 24
as part in the event of a reorganization of the Department and the Administration; and 25
(iii) the governance changes to the Administration necessary to 26
ensure that Baltimore City has the appropriate oversight and input into local Baltimore 27
City transit service; and 28
(2) make recommendations regarding the potential for the reorganization 29
of the Department and the Administration to ensure that: 30
(i) local Baltimore City transit service, including light rail, subway, 31
and bus service, remain as a single unit within the Department and any other functions of 32 8 HOUSE BILL 517
the Administration are reorganized into a separate unit within the Department or the 1
Office of the Secretary; 2
(ii) the workforce and personnel of the Administration necessary to 3
operate local Baltimore City transit services remain within the Administration and the 4
workforce and personnel of the Administration necessary to operate statewide transit 5
services are reorganized into a separate unit within the Department or the Office of the 6
Secretary; and 7
(iii) the funding for local Baltimore City transit service is not 8
reduced. 9
(g) On or before December 1, 2025, the Workgroup shall report its findings and 10
recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 11
Government Article, the General Assembly. 12
(g) (1) To the extent practicable, the Workgroup shall: 13
(i) analyze alternative reorganization plans and weigh the costs and 14
benefits of each alternative; 15
(ii) provide cost estimates for any reorganization plan; and 16
(iii) analyze the impact of any potential reorganization plan on federal 17
funding and regulatory compliance. 18
(2) Any reorganization plan considered by the Workgroup under this 19
subsection may not reduce funding for local Baltimore City transit services. 20
(h) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the fiscal year 2027 budget for the 21
Office of the Secretary of Transportation include an appropriation of $150,000 for consulting 22
services to support the efforts of the Workgroup. 23
(i) On or before December 1, 2026: 24
(1) the Workgroup shall report its findings and recommendations to the 25
Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General 26
Assembly; and 27
(2) the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department 28
of Legislative Services, shall submit to the Speaker of the House and the President of the 29
Senate draft legislation to effectuate the recommendations of the Workgroup. 30
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the General 31
Assembly that: 32
HOUSE BILL 517 9
(1) beginning with the fiscal year 2027 budget, all local Baltimore City 1
transit services, including light rail, subway, and bus service, be included in the Maryland 2
Transit Administration budget and all statewide transit service, including MARC rail 3
service, the construction and operation of the Purple Line, and commuter bus service, be 4
included in the Office of the Secretary’s budget; and 5
(2) on or before December 1, 2025, the Department of Transportation shall 6
submit draft legislation to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 7
Government Article, the General Assembly providing for the reorganization of the 8
Department to ensure that the Maryland Transit Administration provides local Baltimore 9
City transit services, including light rail, subway, and bus service, and a separate unit 10
within the Department provides statewide transit services including MARC rail service, 11
the construction and operation of the Purple Line, and commuter bus service. 12
SECTION 3. 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, Tha t this Act shall take effect 13
July 1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year 2 years and, at the end of June 14
30, 2026 2027, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 15
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 16
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.