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.
*sb0281*
SENATE BILL 281
P1, R7 (5lr0607)
ENROLLED BILL
— Judicial Proceedings and Education, Energy, and the Environment/Environment
and Transportation —
Introduced by Senators Simonaire, Salling, Jennings, Gallion, Mautz, and Bailey,
Folden, and James
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
President.
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; exempting certain vehicles owned by licensed 6
dealers from a certain excise tax; and generally relating to veterans and uniformed 7
services. 8
BY renumbering 9
Article – Transportation 10
Section 11–103.4 11
to be Section 11–103.5 12 2 SENATE BILL 281
Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 2
BY adding to 3
Article – General Provisions 4
Section 1–101.1, 1–101.2, 1–103.1, 1–114.1, 1–114.2, and 1–116 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – General Provisions 9
Section 1–117 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – State Government 14
Section 9–901 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 18
Article – Transportation 19
Section 11–101, 12–301(i)(4)(i), 13–616.2(a)(2)(ii)1., 16–115(a)(1) and (2), and 20
23–202(a)(1) 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 23
BY adding to 24
Article – Transportation 25
Section 11–101.1, 11–101.2, 11–103.4, 11–148.2, 11–158.1, 11–174.2, and 11–178, 26
and 13–810(g) 27
Annotated Code of Maryland 28
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 29
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 30
Article – Transportation 31
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), 32
(c), and (d)(1), 13–619.4(b) and (c), 13–810(f), 16–102(a)(7), 16–111(e)(1) and 33
(4), 16–115(d)(1), and 23–206.2(c) 34
Annotated Code of Maryland 35
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 36
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 37
That Section(s) 11–103.4 of Article – Transportation of the Annotated Code of Maryland be 38
renumbered to be Section(s) 11–103.5. 39
SENATE BILL 281 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 1
as follows: 2
Article – General Provisions 3
1–101.1. 4
“ACTIVE DUT Y” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 5
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 6
1–101.2. 7
“ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE 8
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 9
1–103.1. 10
“ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 11
GOVERNMEN T ARTICLE. 12
1–114.1. 13
“RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 14
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 15
1–114.2. 16
“SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 17
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 18
1–116. 19
“UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 20
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 21
1–117. 22
(A) “VETERAN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 23
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 24
(B) With respect to any State program of benefits, rights, or privileges applicable 25
to a veteran under this Code, “veteran” includes[, if the individual is eligible under 38 26
U.S.C. § 101, a member of the commissioned corps of: 27
(1) the Public Health Service; or 28 4 SENATE BILL 281
(2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its 1
predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey] AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ME ETS THE 2
DEFINITION OF “VETERAN” UNDER § 9–901 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 3
Article – State Government 4
9–901. 5
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 6
(B) “ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 7
(C) “ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS: 8
(1) AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBE R OF THE UNIFORMED S ERVICES; OR 9
(2) SERVING IN A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNI FORMED 10
SERVICES ON ACTIVE D UTY ORDERS. 11
(D) “ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEA NING STATED IN 10 U.S.C. § 101. 12
[(b)] (E) “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Veterans Trust. 13
[(c)] (F) “Department” means the Department of Veterans and Military 14
Families. 15
(G) “MILITARY FAMILY ” INCLUDES THE SPOUSE AND DEPENDENT 16
CHILDREN OF A SERVIC E MEMBER OR VETERAN RELATED BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR 17
ADOPTION. 18
(H) “RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 19
[(d)] (I) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families. 20
(J) “SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A MEMBER OF: 21
(1) THE UNIFORMED SERVIC ES; OR 22
(2) A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNIFORMED SER VICES. 23
[(e)] (K) “Trust” means the Maryland Veterans Trust. 24
(L) “UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 25
SENATE BILL 281 5
[(f)] (M) Except as otherwise provided [in this subtitle], “veteran” [means an 1
individual who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than 2
for training, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable] HAS 3
THE MEANING STATED I N 38 U.S.C. § 101. 4
Article – Transportation 5
11–101. 6
In the Maryland Vehicle Law, the following words have the meanings indicated, 7
unless the context requires otherwise. 8
11–101.1. 9
“ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 10
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 11
11–101.2. 12
“ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE 13
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 14
11–103.4. 15
“ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 16
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 17
11–148.2. 18
“RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 19
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 20
11–158.1. 21
“SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 22
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 23
11–174.2. 24
“UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 25
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 26
11–178. 27
6 SENATE BILL 281
“VETERAN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 1
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 2
12–301. 3
(i) (4) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the 4
Administration may issue a temporary renewal for an identification card that extends the 5
expiration date for a period not exceeding 2 years for an applicant who: 6
1. Has the documentation required by federal law, as 7
enumerated in subsection (a)(4) and (5) of this section, on file with the Administration; 8
2. Has a photograph on file with the Administration that will 9
not be 16 years old or older by the expiration date of the temporary renewal; and 10
3. Has an identification card that was issued for the full term 11
under paragraph (1) of this subsection. 12
(ii) The Administration may make temporary renewal of an 13
identification card available to: 14
1. An active [duty] SERVICE member [of the armed forces of 15
the United States] or a spouse or dependent of the ACTIVE SERVICE member; 16
13–402.1. 17
(c) If a nonresident is a member of the [armed forces of the United States or of 18
the United States Public Health Service] UNIFORMED SERVICES and is serving on active 19
duty in this State or an adjoining state or the District of Columbia, the nonresident need 20
not register [his] THE MEMBER ’S personal passenger vehicles in this State if the vehicles 21
are registered in the state of [his] THE MEMBER ’S residence. 22
13–616.2. 23
(a) A person may apply to the Administration for a temporary parking placard on 24
a form provided by the Administration if: 25
(2) (ii) The applicant, a dependent of the applicant, or any individual 26
who depends on the applicant for transportation: 27
1. Submits proof satisfactory to the Administration that the 28
individual has a disability as described in § 13–616(b)(1) of this subtitle; and 29
2. B. Is serving in the [armed forces of the United States] 30
UNIFORMED SERVICES and is stationed in the State; 31
SENATE BILL 281 7
13–619.1. 1
(a) (2) To be eligible for a special registration described under subsection 2
(c)(2)(i) of this section, an applicant shall provide proof that is satisfactory to the 3
Administration that the applicant is a recipient of an individually earned, combat–related 4
armed forces medal OR A NON–COMBAT–RELATED UNIFORMED SE RVICES MEDAL OF 5
THE HIGHEST LEV ELS. 6
(3) To be eligible for a special registration described under subsection 7
(c)(2)(ii) of this section, an applicant shall provide proof that is satisfactory to the 8
Administration that the applicant is [an honorably discharged] A veteran [of a branch of 9
the armed forces of the United States]. 10
(c) Special registration plates issued under this section: 11
(1) May consist of any combination of letters, numerals, or both; and 12
(2) Shall include: 13
(i) For registration plates issued for an applicant described in 14
subsection (a)(2) of this section: 15
1. An emblem or logo as authorized by the Administration 16
that depicts the applicant’s [armed forces] UNIFORMED SERVICES medal; and 17
2. Except on plates issued for Class D (motorcycle) vehicles, 18
words describing the medal printed across the bottom of the plates; 19
(ii) Words or an emblem or logo indicating that the special 20
registration plate holder is [an honorably discharged] A veteran [of a branch of the armed 21
forces of the United States]; or 22
(iii) An emblem or logo indicating that the registration plate holder 23
is the recipient of the U.S. Department of Defense Gold Star or Next of Kin lapel button. 24
(d) (1) The Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Department of 25
Defense, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, THE COMMISSIONED CORPS 26
OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 27
ADMINISTRATION , and appropriate representatives of the various branches of the [armed 28
forces] UNIFORMED SERVICES , shall adopt regulations specifying those [armed forces] 29
UNIFORMED SERVICES medals that are of the type described in subsection (a)(2) of this 30
section and which, when awarded to an individual, qualify that individual to apply for 31
special registration under this section. 32
13–619.4. 33
8 SENATE BILL 281
(b) To be eligible for a special disabled veteran registration plate under this 1
section, an applicant shall provide proof that is satisfactory to the Administration that the 2
applicant is [an armed forces] A veteran who is between 50% and 99%, inclusive, 3
service–connected disabled as designated or classified by the U.S. Department of Veterans 4
Affairs. 5
(c) The Administration may issue a special disabled veteran registration plate 6
that does not display the international symbol of access in recognition of the vehicle owner’s 7
service–connected disability to an individual who is [an armed forces] A veteran and is 8
between 50% and 99%, inclusive, service–connected disabled. 9
13–810. 10
(f) [(1) In this subsection, “military” includes the Commissioned Corps of the 11
Public Health Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the 12
Coast and Geodetic Survey. 13
(2)] A vehicle is exempt from the excise tax imposed by this part on issuance 14
of an original certificate of title if the vehicle: 15
[(i)] (1) Is owned by [a] AN ACTIVE SERVICE member [of the 16
military on active duty] or A SERVICE MEMBER who returns to the State from active duty; 17
and 18
[(ii)] (2) Was formerly titled and registered in another state by the 19
present owner of the vehicle. 20
(G) A VEHICLE OWNED BY A L ICENSED DEALER IS EX EMPT FROM THE EXCISE 21
TAX IMPOSED BY THIS PART IF THE VEHICLE IS PROVIDED TO A CUS TOMER FOR USE 22
WHILE THE CUSTOMER ’S VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE DUE TO REPAIR , MAINTENANCE , OR 23
OTHER VEHICLE SERVIC E PERFORMED BY THE D EALER. 24
16–102. 25
(a) The licensing requirements of this title do not apply to: 26
(7) A member of the [armed forces of the United States or of the United 27
States Public Health Service] UNIFORMED SERVICES who is serving on active duty and 28
any dependent of the member, if: 29
(i) The driver has [with him] IN THE DRIVER ’S POSSESSION a 30
license to drive issued to [him] THE DRIVER by [his] THE DRIVER’S state of domicile; and 31
(ii) The license authorizes the driver to drive in [his] THE DRIVER’S 32
state of domicile vehicles of the class [he] THE DRIVER is driving in this State; 33 SENATE BILL 281 9
16–111. 1
(e) (1) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this section or any other provision of 2
this subtitle, the Administration may issue a provisional license to an individual who has 3
been licensed to drive in another state or country, or by the armed forces [of the United 4
States] for less than 18 months. 5
(4) Notwithstanding § 16–103(c)(3) of this subtitle, the Administration may 6
issue a license under § 16–111.1 of this subtitle without issuing a learner’s instructional 7
permit or a provisional license if the individual has been licensed to drive in another state 8
or country, or by the armed forces [of the United States], for at least 18 months. 9
16–115. 10
(a) (1) Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, a license issued under this 11
title to a driver at least 21 years old shall expire on the birth date of the licensee at the end 12
of a period of not more than 8 years determined in regulations adopted by the 13
Administration following the issuance of the license. 14
(2) Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, a license issued under this 15
title to a driver under the age of 21 years shall expire not later than 60 days after the 16
driver’s 21st birthday. 17
(d) (1) A license shall remain in full force and effect during an absence from 18
the State if the license is held by: 19
(i) 1. A member of the [armed forces of the United States] 20
UNIFORMED SERVICES who is absent from this State on active service in the [armed 21
forces of the United States] UNIFORMED SERVICES ; or 22
2. A dependent of the member who is residing with the 23
member outside the State; or 24
(ii) 1. A contract employee working on behalf of a federal agency 25
or branch of the [armed] UNIFORMED services who is absent from the State in service of 26
the contract; or 27
2. A dependent of the contract employee who is residing with 28
the contract employee outside the State. 29
23–202. 30
(a) (1) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, the Administration and the 31
Secretary shall establish an emissions control program in the State in accordance with the 32
federal Clean Air Act. 33 10 SENATE BILL 281
23–206.2. 1
(c) (1) A motor vehicle owned by at least one active duty member of the 2
[armed] UNIFORMED services [of the United States] at the time of a scheduled mandatory 3
inspection under this subtitle is exempt from the mandatory inspections required by this 4
subtitle if: 5
(i) An owner of the motor vehicle who is a member of the [armed] 6
UNIFORMED services [of the United States] has received [military] OFFICIAL orders: 7
1. For deployment outside the United States; or 8
2. To a duty station in a jurisdiction that is not subject to a 9
vehicle emissions control inspection and maintenance program; and 10
(ii) The exemption is not otherwise prohibited by federal law. 11
(2) In order to qualify for an exemption under paragraph (1) of this 12
subsection, all owners of the motor vehicle shall certify that at least one owner of the motor 13
vehicle has received [military] OFFICIAL orders for deployment outside the United States 14
or to a duty station in a jurisdiction that is not subject to a vehicle emissions control 15
inspection and maintenance program. 16
(3) The certification required in paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be 17
made on a form provided by the Administration. 18
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
October 1, 2025. 20
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.