# Maryland SB 0068: Driver’s Licenses – Driver Skills Examination – Motorcycle Safety Awareness (D. Torch Road Safety Act) Maryland SB 0068, Driver’s Licenses – Driver Skills Examination – Motorcycle Safety Awareness (D. Torch Road Safety Act), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Nick Charles (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 539) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0068-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0068 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Driver’s Licenses – Driver Skills Examination – Motorcycle Safety Awareness (D. Torch Road Safety Act) - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-09-06 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 539 - Sponsor: Nick Charles (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Vehicle Laws - Licensing and Regulation, Driver Education, Drivers' Licenses, Motorcycles, Mopeds, and Motor Scooters, Motor Vehicle Administration, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (178 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Driver test adds motorcycle safety questions: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland’s driver exam includes motorcycle safety awareness. The question pool must have at least five motorcycle safety questions. Each test includes at least one of those questions. Topics include seeing motorcycles, proper lane position, safe following distance, and pr… - Easier license waivers; vision test still required: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the Motor Vehicle Administration can waive license exams for some applicants. You qualify if you hold a valid Maryland license, hold a valid license from another U.S. state or territory, D.C., Puerto Rico, or Canada, or you apply for Class M after finishing the Administra… - New vehicle and escort rules for road tests: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, you must bring a vehicle suited to the license class you want. You cannot use an autocycle for the test. Learner’s permit holders must be accompanied by a qualified, licensed driver. Class M permit holders may haul a motorcycle by truck if licensed to drive that truck, or… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Nick Charles (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 134 | 0 | 6 | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 0 | | ## Actions (14) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 539 - 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (134-0) (House) - 2026-04-10: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-04-09: Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation (House) - 2026-03-25: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-02-27: Referred Environment and Transportation (House) - 2026-02-26: Third Reading Passed (44-0) (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Favorable with Amendments {323627/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate) - 2026-01-14: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Hearing 1/28 at 11:00 a.m. (Senate) - 2025-09-06: Pre-filed (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_539_sb0068t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-02-24: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0068t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0068f.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_539_sb0068t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0068t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0068f.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) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0068-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).