# Maryland HB 1081: Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act

Maryland HB 1081, Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Marc Korman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 420) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1081-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 1081
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-10
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 420
- Sponsor: Marc Korman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 12
- Subjects: Transportation - Generally, Archives, Baltimore City, Baltimore Metropolitan Council, Budget and Management, Department of, Budgets -see also- Capital Budgets, Buses -see also- School Buses, Capital Budgets, Commercial Property, Committees and Commissions, Condemnation, Constitutional Amendments, Construction, Damages, Electronic Documents, Electronic Government, Ethics, General Assembly -see also- AELR Cmte; LegislativePolCmte, General Services, Department of, Grants, Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, Land Records -see also- Deeds, Liability, Mass Transit -see also- Buses; Railroads, Notices, Open Government, Procurement, Public Information, Public Works -see also- Brg&Tun; Hwys; PublBlgFac; etc., Public Works, Board of, Railroads, Real Property, Recordation, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Recruitment and Hiring, Referendum, Reports, Retirement -see also- Mandatory Retirement, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, State Employees, State Highway Administration, Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports, Torts -see also-Med Malp; Wrongful Death, Transportation, Department of, Utilities -see also- Recycl; Refuse; Sewage; Teleph; Water
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (280 yes, 170 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 6

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- State commission sets pay for transit managers: benefit, low. The Maryland Transportation Commission sets qualifications, appointments, pay, and leave for up to 12 transit management positions. Pay changes must be sent to the Budget Secretary at least 10 days before they take effect; the Secretary has 10 days to flag any special‑fund impact. These employees a…
- Transit injury claims follow federal law: benefit, low. State transit tort limits cannot override the federal liability rule at 49 U.S.C. § 28103 or agreements made under it. This preserves federal protections for claims and keeps the Transit Administration’s federal obligations in place.
- New boards guide Baltimore transit: benefit, low. The law creates boards to oversee Baltimore core transit service and to advise on MARC and commuter buses. The Baltimore board approves major service plans and operating and capital budget requests on a set timeline; requests are approved if the board does not act in time. It takes a two‑thirds vot…
- New procurement rules; small transit contracts exempt: mixed, medium. The Board of Public Works now sets statewide buying rules and can control agency procurements. It may adopt rules and require prior approval for some purchases. For Maryland Transit Administration fixed‑guideway work, maintenance or capital contracts under $500,000 do not use Division II procuremen…
- Start dates depend on 2026 actions: mixed, low. Section 1 takes effect on October 1, 2026 only if H.B. 587 does not become law in 2026. If H.B. 587 takes effect, Section 1 is null and void. If Section 1 takes effect, Section 2 is abrogated and has no further effect.
- Property buying and taking rules change: mixed, low. Before the State signs a land purchase, the Secretary of General Services must review it and the Board of Public Works must approve it. Counties and cities get at least 40 days’ notice and 30 days to comment; this notice rule does not cover capital spending by the Aviation, Port, or Transit Adminis…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Marc Korman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mark Edelson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Linda Foley (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michele Guyton (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Anne Healey (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Marvin E. Holmes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Robbyn Lewis (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darrell Odom (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dana Stein (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Natalie Ziegler (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 1 | 1 |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 101 | 35 | 4 |
| 2026-03-18 | House | Floor Amendment {523627/1 (Delegate Mangione) Rejected | fail | 37 | 98 | 3 |
| 2026-03-18 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 97 | 36 | 3 |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 420
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (101-35) (House)
- 2026-04-13: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (45-1) (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {133724/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Referred Finance Budget and Taxation (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Third Reading Passed (97-36) (House)
- 2026-03-18: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-18: Floor Amendment {523627/1 (Delegate Mangione) Rejected (37-98) (House)
- 2026-03-17: Motion Special Order until 03/18 (Delegate Mangione) Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-17: Favorable with Amendments {813726/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-02-12: Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-10: First Reading Environment and Transportation (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_420_hb1081e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1081e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1081t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1081f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_420_hb1081e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1081e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1081t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1081f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1081-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).