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.
*sb0281*
SENATE BILL 281
P1, R7 5lr0607
CF HB 475
By: Senators Simonaire, Salling, Jennings, Gallion, Mautz, and Bailey, Folden,
and James
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2025
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings and Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 25, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Transportation Equality for Service Members Act 2
FOR the purpose of establishing rules of interpretation related to the uniformed services; 3
altering the rule of interpretation for “veteran”; altering the application of certain 4
provisions of law governing transportation to apply to all uniformed services, rather 5
than only certain uniformed services; and generally relating to veterans and 6
uniformed services. 7
BY renumbering 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 11–103.4 10
to be Section 11–103.5 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
BY adding to 14
Article – General Provisions 15
Section 1–101.1, 1–101.2, 1–103.1, 1–114.1, 1–114.2, and 1–116 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19
Article – General Provisions 20
Section 1–117 21 2 SENATE BILL 281
Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 2
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 3
Article – State Government 4
Section 9–901 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 11–101, 12–301(i)(4)(i), 13–616.2(a)(2)(ii)1., 16–115(a)(1) and (2), and 10
23–202(a)(1) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
BY adding to 14
Article – Transportation 15
Section 11–101.1, 11–101.2, 11–103.4, 11–148.2, 11–158.1, 11–174.2, and 11–178 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19
Article – Transportation 20
Section 12–301(i)(4)(ii)1., 13–402.1(c), 13–616.2(a)(2)(ii)2.B., 13–619.1(a)(2) and (3), 21
(c), and (d)(1), 13–619.4(b) and (c), 13–810(f), 16–102(a)(7), 16–111(e)(1) and 22
(4), 16–115(d)(1), and 23–206.2(c) 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 25
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 26
That Section(s) 11–103.4 of Article – Transportation of the Annotated Code of Maryland be 27
renumbered to be Section(s) 11–103.5. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 29
as follows: 30
Article – General Provisions 31
1–101.1. 32
“ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 33
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 34
1–101.2. 35
SENATE BILL 281 3
“ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE 1
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 2
1–103.1. 3
“ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 4
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 5
1–114.1. 6
“RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 7
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 8
1–114.2. 9
“SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 10
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 11
1–116. 12
“UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 13
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 14
1–117. 15
(A) “VETERAN” HAS THE MEANING ST ATED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 16
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 17
(B) With respect to any State program of benefits, rights, or privileges applicable 18
to a veteran under this Code, “veteran” includes[, if the individual is eligible under 38 19
U.S.C. § 101, a member of the commissioned corps of: 20
(1) the Public Health Service; or 21
(2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its 22
predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey] AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ME ETS THE 23
DEFINITION OF “VETERAN” UNDER § 9–901 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 24
Article – State Government 25
9–901. 26
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 27
(B) “ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 28 4 SENATE BILL 281
(C) “ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS: 1
(1) AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER O F THE UNIFORMED SERV ICES; OR 2
(2) SERVING IN A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNI FORMED 3
SERVICES ON ACTIVE D UTY ORDERS. 4
(D) “ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 10 U.S.C. § 101. 5
[(b)] (E) “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Veterans Trust. 6
[(c)] (F) “Department” means the Department of Veterans and Military 7
Families. 8
(G) “MILITARY FAMILY ” INCLUDES THE SPOUSE AND DEPENDENT 9
CHILDREN OF A SERVIC E MEMBER OR VETERAN RELATED BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR 10
ADOPTION. 11
(H) “RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 12
[(d)] (I) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families. 13
(J) “SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A MEMBER OF : 14
(1) THE UNIFORMED SERVIC ES; OR 15
(2) A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNI FORMED SERVICES . 16
[(e)] (K) “Trust” means the Maryland Veterans Trust. 17
(L) “UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 18
[(f)] (M) Except as otherwise provided [in this subtitle], “veteran” [means an 19
individual who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than 20
for training, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable] HAS 21
THE MEANING STATED I N 38 U.S.C. § 101. 22
Article – Transportation 23
11–101. 24
In the Maryland Vehicle Law, the following words have the meanings indicated, 25
unless the context requires otherwise. 26
SENATE BILL 281 5
11–101.1. 1
“ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 2
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 3
11–101.2. 4
“ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING ST ATED IN § 9–901 OF THE 5
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 6
11–103.4. 7
“ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 8
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 9
11–148.2. 10
“RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 11
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 12
11–158.1. 13
“SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 14
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 15
11–174.2. 16
“UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 17
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 18
11–178. 19
“VETERAN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 20
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 21
12–301. 22
(i) (4) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the 23
Administration may issue a temporary renewal for an identification card that extends the 24
expiration date for a period not exceeding 2 years for an applicant who: 25
1. Has the documentation required by federal law, as 26
enumerated in subsection (a)(4) and (5) of this section, on file with the Administration; 27
6 SENATE BILL 281
2. Has a photograph on file with the Administration that will 1
not be 16 years old or older by the expiration date of the temporary renewal; and 2
3. Has an identification card that was issued for the full term 3
under paragraph (1) of this subsection. 4
(ii) The Administration may make temporary renewal of an 5
identification card available to: 6
1. An active [duty] SERVICE member [of the armed forces of 7
the United States] or a spouse or dependent of the ACTIVE SERVICE member; 8
13–402.1. 9
(c) If a nonresident is a member of the [armed forces of the United States or of 10
the United States Public Health Service] UNIFORMED SERVICES and is serving on active 11
duty in this State or an adjoining state or the District of Columbia, the nonresident need 12
not register [his] THE MEMBER ’S personal passenger vehicles in this State if the vehicles 13
are registered in the state of [his] THE MEMBER ’S residence. 14
13–616.2. 15
(a) A person may apply to the Administration for a temporary parking placard on 16
a form provided by the Administration if: 17
(2) (ii) The applicant, a dependent of the applicant, or any individual 18
who depends on the applicant for transportation: 19
1. Submits proof satisfactory to the Administration that the 20
individual has a disability as described in § 13–616(b)(1) of this subtitle; and 21
2. B. Is serving in the [armed forces of the United States] 22
UNIFORMED SERVICES and is stationed in the State; 23
13–619.1. 24
(a) (2) To be eligible for a special registration described under subsection 25
(c)(2)(i) of this section, an applicant shall provide proof that is satisfactory to the 26
Administration that the applicant is a recipient of an individually earned, combat–related 27
armed forces medal OR A NON–COMBAT–RELATED UNIFORMED SE RVICES MEDAL OF 28
THE HIGHEST LEVELS . 29
(3) To be eligible for a special registration described under subsection 30
(c)(2)(ii) of this section, an applicant shall provide proof that is satisfactory to the 31
Administration that the applicant is [an honorably discharged] A veteran [of a branch of 32
the armed forces of the United States]. 33 SENATE BILL 281 7
(c) Special registration plates issued under this section: 1
(1) May consist of any combination of letters, numerals, or both; and 2
(2) Shall include: 3
(i) For registration plates issued for an applicant described in 4
subsection (a)(2) of this section: 5
1. An emblem or logo as authorized by the Administration 6
that depicts the applicant’s [armed forces] UNIFORMED SERVICES medal; and 7
2. Except on plates issued for Class D (motorcycle) vehicles, 8
words describing the medal printed across the bottom of the plates; 9
(ii) Words or an emblem or logo indicating that the special 10
registration plate holder is [an honorably discharged] A veteran [of a branch of the armed 11
forces of the United States]; or 12
(iii) An emblem or logo indicating that the registration plate holder 13
is the recipient of the U.S. Department of Defense Gold Star or Next of Kin lapel button. 14
(d) (1) The Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Department of 15
Defense, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, THE COMMISSIONED CORPS 16
OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 17
ADMINISTRATION , and appropriate representatives of the various branches of the [armed 18
forces] UNIFORMED SERVICES , shall adopt regulations specifying those [armed forces] 19
UNIFORMED SERVICES medals that are of the type described in subsection (a)(2) of this 20
section and which, when awarded to an individual, qualify that individual to apply for 21
special registration under this section. 22
13–619.4. 23
(b) To be eligible for a special disabled veteran registration plate under this 24
section, an applicant shall provide proof that is satisfactory to the Administration that the 25
applicant is [an armed forces] A veteran who is between 50% and 99%, inclusive, 26
service–connected disabled as designated or classified by the U.S. Department of Veterans 27
Affairs. 28
(c) The Administration may issue a special disabled veteran registration plate 29
that does not display the international symbol of access in recognition of the vehicle owner’s 30
service–connected disability to an individual who is [an armed forces] A veteran and is 31
between 50% and 99%, inclusive, service–connected disabled. 32
13–810. 33 8 SENATE BILL 281
(f) [(1) In this subsection, “military” includes the Commissioned Corps of the 1
Public Health Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the 2
Coast and Geodetic Survey. 3
(2)] A vehicle is exempt from the excise tax imposed by this part on issuance 4
of an original certificate of title if the vehicle: 5
[(i)] (1) Is owned by [a] AN ACTIVE SERVICE member [of the 6
military on active duty] or A SERVICE MEMBER who returns to the State from active duty; 7
and 8
[(ii)] (2) Was formerly titled and registered in another state by the 9
present owner of the vehicle. 10
16–102. 11
(a) The licensing requirements of this title do not apply to: 12
(7) A member of the [armed forces of the United States or of the United 13
States Public Health Service] UNIFORMED SERVICES who is serving on active duty and 14
any dependent of the member, if: 15
(i) The driver has [with him] IN THE DRIVER ’S POSSESSION a 16
license to drive issued to [him] THE DRIVER by [his] THE DRIVER’S state of domicile; and 17
(ii) The license authorizes the driver to drive in [his] THE DRIVER’S 18
state of domicile vehicles of the class [he] THE DRIVER is driving in this State; 19
16–111. 20
(e) (1) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this section or any other provision of 21
this subtitle, the Administration may issue a provisional license to an individual who has 22
been licensed to drive in another state or country, or by the armed forces [of the United 23
States] for less than 18 months. 24
(4) Notwithstanding § 16–103(c)(3) of this subtitle, the Administration may 25
issue a license under § 16–111.1 of this subtitle without issuing a learner’s instructional 26
permit or a provisional license if the individual has been licensed to drive in another state 27
or country, or by the armed forces [of the United States], for at least 18 months. 28
16–115. 29
(a) (1) Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, a license issued under this 30
title to a driver at least 21 years old shall expire on the birth date of the licensee at the end 31 SENATE BILL 281 9
of a period of not more than 8 years determined in regulations adopted by the 1
Administration following the issuance of the license. 2
(2) Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, a license issued under this 3
title to a driver under the age of 21 years shall expire not later than 60 days after the 4
driver’s 21st birthday. 5
(d) (1) A license shall remain in full force and effect during an absence from 6
the State if the license is held by: 7
(i) 1. A member of the [armed forces of the United States] 8
UNIFORMED SERVICES who is absent from this State on active service in the [armed 9
forces of the United States] UNIFORMED SERVICES ; or 10
2. A dependent of the member who is residing with the 11
member outside the State; or 12
(ii) 1. A contract employee working on behalf of a federal agency 13
or branch of the [armed] UNIFORMED services who is absent from the State in service of 14
the contract; or 15
2. A dependent of the contract employee who is residing with 16
the contract employee outside the State. 17
23–202. 18
(a) (1) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, the Administration and the 19
Secretary shall establish an emissions control program in the State in accordance with the 20
federal Clean Air Act. 21
23–206.2. 22
(c) (1) A motor vehicle owned by at least one active duty member of the 23
[armed] UNIFORMED services [of the United States] at the time of a scheduled mandatory 24
inspection under this subtitle is exempt from the mandatory inspections required by this 25
subtitle if: 26
(i) An owner of the motor vehicle who is a member of the [armed] 27
UNIFORMED services [of the United States] has received [military] OFFICIAL orders: 28
1. For deployment outside the United States; or 29
2. To a duty station in a jurisdiction that is not subject to a 30
vehicle emissions control inspection and maintenance program; and 31
(ii) The exemption is not otherwise prohibited by federal law. 32 10 SENATE BILL 281
(2) In order to qualify for an exemption under paragraph (1) of this 1
subsection, all owners of the motor vehicle shall certify that at least one owner of the motor 2
vehicle has received [military] OFFICIAL orders for deployment outside the United States 3
or to a duty station in a jurisdiction that is not subject to a vehicle emissions control 4
inspection and maintenance program. 5
(3) The certification required in paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be 6
made on a form provided by the Administration. 7
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 8
October 1, 2025. 9
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.