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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
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amendment.
*hb1169*
HOUSE BILL 1169
R5 6lr0959
By: Howard County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 26, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Howard County – Highways – Speed Limits 2
Ho. Co. 8–26 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing Howard County to decrease the maximum speed limit to 4
not less than a certain speed on highways after performing an engineering and traffic 5
investigation; prohibiting Howard County from implementing a new speed 6
monitoring system to enforce speed limits on highways on which the speed limit has 7
been reduced under this Act; and generally relating to the establishment of speed 8
limits on highways in Howard County. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Transportation 11
Section 21–801.1(a) through (d) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Transportation 16
Section 21–803(a) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1169
Article – Transportation 1
21–801.1. 2
(a) Unless there is a special danger that requires a lower speed to comply with § 3
21–801 of this s ubtitle, the limits specified in this section or otherwise established under 4
this subtitle are maximum lawful speeds. A person may not drive a vehicle on a highway 5
at a speed that exceeds these limits. 6
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the maximum speed limits are: 7
(1) 15 miles per hour in alleys in Baltimore County; 8
(2) 30 miles per hour on: 9
(i) All highways in a business district; and 10
(ii) Undivided highways in a residential district; 11
(3) 35 miles per hour on divided highways in a residential district; 12
(4) 50 miles per hour on undivided highways in other locations; and 13
(5) 55 miles per hour on divided highways in other locations. 14
(c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a posted maximum speed 15
limit lawfully in effect on December 31, 1974, is a maximum lawful speed even if it differs 16
from a limit specified in subsection (b) of this section. 17
(d) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a maximum speed limit 18
specified in subsection (b) of this section or in effect under subsection (c) of this section may 19
be altered as provided in this subtitle. 20
21–803. 21
(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) through (6) of this subsection, if, 22
on the basis of an engineering and traffic invest igation, a local authority determines that 23
any maximum speed limit specified in this subtitle is greater or less than reasonable or 24
safe under existing conditions on any part of a highway in its jurisdiction, it may establish 25
a reasonable and safe maximum speed limit for that part of the highway, which may: 26
(i) Decrease the limit at an intersection; 27
(ii) Increase the limit in an urban district to not more than 50 miles 28
per hour; 29
HOUSE BILL 1169 3
(iii) Decrease the limit in an urban district; or 1
(iv) Decrease the limit outside an urban district to not less than 25 2
miles per hour. 3
(2) An engineering and traffic investigation is not required to conform a 4
posted maximum speed limit in effect on December 31, 1974, to a different limit specified 5
in § 21–801.1(b) of this subtitle. 6
(3) Calvert County may decrease the maximum speed limit to not less than 7
15 miles per hour on Lore Road and, except for Solomons Island Road, each highway south 8
of Lore Road without performing an engineering and traffic investigation, regardless of 9
whether the highway is inside an urban district. 10
(4) (i) This paragraph applies only to: 11
1. Anne Arundel County , HOWARD COUNTY, and 12
Montgomery County; and 13
2. Municipalities located in Anne Arundel County and 14
Montgomery County. 15
(ii) A local authority may decrease the maximum speed limit to not 16
less than 15 miles per hour on a highway only after performing an engineering and traffic 17
investigation. 18
(iii) A local authority may not implement a new speed monitoring 19
system to enforce speed limits on any portion of a highway for which the speed limit has 20
been decreased under this paragraph. 21
(5) Baltimore City may, without performing an engineering and traffic 22
investigation: 23
(i) Decrease the maximum speed limit on a highway under its 24
jurisdiction; or 25
(ii) Increase to a previously established level the maximum speed 26
limit on a highway under its jurisdiction. 27
(6) A municipality located in Queen Anne’s County may decrease the 28
maximum speed limit to not less than 15 miles per hour on a highway without performing 29
an engineering and traffic investigation. 30
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 31
October 1, 2026. 32