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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0018*
HOUSE BILL 18
C5, K3 6lr1562
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate Vogel
Requested: October 31, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Transportation Network Companies – Transportation Network Operators – 2
Minimum Payments for Passenger Trips 3
FOR the purpose of requiring a transportation network company to pay operators, after a 4
certain date and for any passenger trip originating in the State, a certain minimum 5
amount per mile and per minute , an additional amount per mile for a n operator 6
using a wheelchair accessible vehicle, a certain minimum amount for any passenger 7
trip, and at least a certain percentage of a ny cancellation fee charged by a 8
transportation network company; adjusting the minimum amount paid per mile and 9
per minute by inflation each year; and generally relating to compensation paid to 10
transportation network operators by transportation network companies. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
Article – Public Utilities 13
Section 10–101(a), (l), (m), and (n) and 10–401 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
BY adding to 17
Article – Public Utilities 18
Section 10–410 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23
Article – Public Utilities 24
10–101. 25
2 HOUSE BILL 18
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 1
(l) “Transportation network company” means a company that operates in the 2
State using a digital network to connect passengers to transportation network operators or 3
transportation network partners for transportation network services. 4
(m) “Transportation network operator”, “transportation network partner”, or 5
“transportation network driver” means an individual who: 6
(1) has been issued a transportat ion network operator’s license, or is 7
otherwise authorized, by the Commission to provide transportation network services; 8
(2) receives, through a transportation network company’s digital network 9
application, a connection to a potential passenger to transport the passenger between 10
points chosen by the passenger in exchange for the payment of a fee to the transportation 11
network company; and 12
(3) uses a motor vehicle that is owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for 13
use by the individual and is approved for use in providing transportation network services 14
by the Commission. 15
(n) (1) “Transportation network services” means the activities of an operator 16
during: 17
(i) transportation network coverage period one, during which the 18
operator is logged onto and ready to accept a prearranged ride request made through a 19
transportation network company’s digital network application; 20
(ii) transportation network coverage period two, during which the 21
operator accepts a ride request from a passenger that is prea rranged through a 22
transportation network company’s digital network application, and is traveling to a 23
predetermined location to pick up the passenger; and 24
(iii) transportation network coverage period three, during which the 25
operator transports the pass enger and continuing until the passenger departs the motor 26
vehicle. 27
(2) “Transportation network services” does not include: 28
(i) providing taxicab services, sedan services, or limousine services; 29
(ii) any shared expense carpool arrangement or service or other type 30
of arrangement or service in which a driver receives a fee that does not exceed the driver’s 31
costs associated with providing a ride; or 32
HOUSE BILL 18 3
(iii) transportation services that a nonprofit organization provides 1
through the use of a volunteer driver and the volunteer driver’s personal vehicle. 2
10–401. 3
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 4
(b) “Insurance Commissioner” means the Insurance Commissioner of the 5
Maryland Insurance Administration. 6
(c) “Operator” means a transportation network operator, transportation network 7
partner, or transportation network driver. 8
10–410. 9
(A) FOR A PASSENGER TRIP ORIGINATING IN THE STATE AFTER JULY 1, 10
2026, A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY SHALL PAY EACH OPERATOR: 11
(1) A MINIMUM OF: 12
(I) $1.66 PER MILE; AND 13
(II) $0.40 PER MINUTE; 14
(2) AN ADDITIONAL $1.18 PER MILE I F A N OPERATOR IS USING A 15
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE; 16
(3) AT LEAST $5.00 FOR EACH PASSENGER TRIP, REGARDLESS OF 17
TRIP DURATION OR MILEAGE; AND 18
(4) AT LEAST 80% OF ANY CANCELLATION FEE CHA RGED BY THE 19
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY IF A PASSENGER TRIP IS CANCELED AFTER 20
BOOKING. 21
(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , ON JULY 1, 22
2027, AND EACH JULY 1 THEREAFTER, THE MINIMUM AMOUNT A TRANSPORTATION 23
NETWORK COMPANY SHAL L PAY EACH OPERATOR PER MILE AND PER MIN UTE AS 24
REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L INCREASE BY AN 25
AMOUNT THAT EQUALS THE PRODUCT OF MULTIPLYING: 26
(I) THE MINIMUM AMOUNT PER MILE AND PER MINUTE 27
REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR; 28
AND 29
4 HOUSE BILL 18
(II) THE PERCENTAGE GROWTH IN THE CONSUMER PRICE 1
INDEX FOR ALL URBAN CONSUMERS OR A SUCCES SOR INDEX PUBLISHED BY THE 2
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 3
(2) (I) THE PERCENTAGE GROWTH IN THE CONSUMER PRICE 4
INDEX FOR ALL URBAN CONSUMERS UNDER PARAG RAPH (1)(II) OF THIS 5
SUBSECTION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY COMPARING THE AVERAGE OF T HE INDEX 6
FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING ON THE JUNE 30 IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE YEAR 7
FOR WHICH THE MINIMU M AMOUNT PER MILE AND PER MINUTE IS BEING 8
CALCULATED TO THE AVERAGE OF THE INDEX F OR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING 9
12 MONTHS. 10
(II) IF THERE IS A DECLINE OR NO GROWTH IN THE CONSUMER 11
PRICE INDEX FOR ALL URBAN CONSUMERS OR IN THE S UCCESSOR INDEX , THE 12
MINIMUM AMOUNT PER MILE AND PER MINUTE SHALL REMAIN UNCHANGED. 13
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 14
1, 2026. 15