EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0780*
HOUSE BILL 780
R5 5lr2866
HB 278/24 – ENT
By: Delegate Kerr
Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Urban State Highways – Speed Limits – Exemptions 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing the State Highway Administration to decrease the 3
maximum speed limit by a certain amount on certain urban State highways without 4
an engineering and traffic investigation; and generally relating to speed limits on 5
urban State highways. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Transportation 8
Section 8–630(a)(1) and (3) and 21–801.1(b) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Transportation 13
Section 21–802 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Transportation 19
8–630. 20
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 21
(3) “Urban highway” means a highway, other than an expressway, that is: 22
2 HOUSE BILL 780
(i) 1. Constructed with a curb and gutter and an enclosed type 1
storm drainage system; 2
2. Located in an urban area and on which is located a public 3
facility that creates appreciable pedestrian traffic along the highway from adjacent areas; 4
3. Located within urban boundaries as defined by the U.S. 5
Census Bureau; or 6
4. Located within the boundaries of a municipal corporation; 7
and 8
(ii) Part of the State highway system. 9
21–801.1. 10
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the maximum speed limits are: 11
(1) 15 miles per hour in alleys in Baltimore County; 12
(2) 30 miles per hour on: 13
(i) All highways in a business district; and 14
(ii) Undivided highways in a residential district; 15
(3) 35 miles per hour on divided highways in a residential district; 16
(4) 50 miles per hour on undivided highways in other locations; and 17
(5) 55 miles per hour on divided highways in other locations. 18
21–802. 19
(a) [If] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, IF, on the basis of an 20
engineering and traffic investigation, the State Highway Administration determines that 21
any maximum speed limit specified in this subtitle is greater or less than reasonable or 22
safe under existing conditions on any part of a highway under its jurisdiction, it may 23
establish a reasonable and safe maximum speed limit for that part of the highway. 24
(b) An engineering and traffic investigation is not required [to]: 25
(1) TO conform a posted maximum speed limit in effect on December 31, 26
1974, to a different limit specified in § 21–801.1(b) of this subtitle; OR 27
HOUSE BILL 780 3
(2) FOR THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO DEC REASE BY 5 1
MILES PER HOUR THE M AXIMUM SPEED LIMIT A UTHORIZED UNDER § 21–801.1(B)(2) 2
AND (3) OF THIS SUBTITLE ON ANY URBAN HIGHWAY , AS DEFINED IN § 8–630 OF THIS 3
ARTICLE, UNDER ITS JURISDICTI ON. 4
(c) Under this section, the State Highway Administration may: 5
(1) Establish a maximum speed limit to apply at all times or only at 6
specified times; and 7
(2) Establish differing limits for different times of day, different types of 8
vehicles, different weather conditions, or other factors bearing on safe speeds. 9
(d) An altered maximum speed limit established under this section is effective 10
when posted on appropriate signs giving notice of the limit. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT F URTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 12
October 1, 2025. 13