# Maryland SB 0145: Motor Vehicles and Marine Vessels - Transfer-on-Death Designations

Maryland SB 0145, Motor Vehicles and Marine Vessels - Transfer-on-Death Designations, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Chris West (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-14 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 73) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0145-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0145
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Motor Vehicles and Marine Vessels - Transfer-on-Death Designations
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-10-21
- Last action: 2026-04-14, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 73
- Sponsor: Chris West (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Natural Resources - Generally, Vehicle Laws - Licensing and Regulation, Applicants and Applications, Beneficiaries, Boats and Ships, Classifications and Designations, Death -see also- Homicide; Murder; Wrongful Death, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Identification -see also- Biometrics; Fingerprinting; DrLics, Motor Vehicles -see also- Aband Veh; Ambulances; Buses; etc., Motor Vehicle Administration, Natural Resources, Department of, Rules and Regulations, Titles -see also- Deeds, Transfer of Goods -see also- Goods&Svc; Leas&Rnt; RetailSale
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (179 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Name a beneficiary on car or boat titles: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland lets you add a transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary to a car or boat title. You can do this if you are the sole owner, or co-owners hold title as joint tenants with right of survivorship or tenants by the entirety. The named person gets ownership when the sole own…
- Claiming a car or boat after death: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, a named beneficiary who outlives the owner must apply for a new title. Apply to the Motor Vehicle Administration for cars, and to the Department of Natural Resources for boats. You must submit the old title showing the designation, the death certificate(s), your ID, and p…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Chris West (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-07 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 137 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026-02-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 42 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-04-14: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 73
- 2026-04-08: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-07: Third Reading Passed (137-0) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-03: Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-20: Referred Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-02-19: Third Reading Passed (42-0) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Favorable 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)
- 2025-10-21: Pre-filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_73_sb0145t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-02-17: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0145t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0145f.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_73_sb0145t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0145t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0145f.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-SB0145-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).
