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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1491*
HOUSE BILL 1491
F1, L1 6lr2983
CF SB 71
By: Delegates Odom, Behler, Boafo, Feldmark, Holmes, Lehman, J. Long, Phillips,
and Simmons
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Education – Interjurisdictional Safe Pathways Commission – Establishment 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Interjurisdictional Safe Pathways Commission to 3
identify, coordinate, and secure funding for safe pathways for students traveling to 4
and from school; and generally relating to the Interjurisdictional Safe Pathways 5
Commission. 6
BY adding to 7
Article – Education 8
Section 7–811 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Education 14
7–811. 15
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 16
INDICATED. 17
(2) “COMMISSION” MEANS THE INTERJURISDICTIONAL SAFE 18
PATHWAYS COMMISSION. 19
(3) “IEP” MEANS AN INDIVIDUALI ZED EDUCATION PROGRA M AS 20
DEFINED UNDER THE FEDERAL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT. 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1491
(4) (I) “SAFE PATHWAYS” MEANS PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO 1
ENSURE SAFE ROUTES F OR STUDENTS TRAVELIN G TO AND FROM SCHOOL , 2
INCLUDING SIDEWALKS, CROSSWALKS, TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES, BIKE LANES, 3
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES, AND SCHOOL ZONE SIGNAGE. 4
(II) “SAFE PATHWAYS ” INCLUDES EDUCAT IONAL PROGRAMS 5
AND POLICY INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE SAFE ROUTES FOR STUDENTS TRAVELING 6
TO AND FROM SCHOOL. 7
(B) THERE IS AN INTERJURISDICTIONAL SAFE PATHWAYS COMMISSION. 8
(C) (1) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS: 9
(I) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, OR THE STATE 10
SUPERINTENDENT’S DESIGNEE; 11
(II) THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, OR THE 12
SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 13
(III) THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, OR THE SECRETARY’S 14
DESIGNEE; 15
(IV) THE SECRETARY OF DISABILITIES, OR THE SECRETARY’S 16
DESIGNEE; AND 17
(V) THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS , APPOINTED BY THE STATE 18
SUPERINTENDENT: 19
1. FOUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCAL SCHOOL 20
SYSTEMS; 21
2. THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM MUNICIPAL LOCAL 22
MANAGEMENT BOARDS; 23
3. ONE STUDENT WHO ATTEN DS A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN 24
THE STATE; 25
4. ONE STUDENT WITH AN IEP WHO ATTENDS A PUBLIC 26
SCHOOL IN THE STATE; 27
5. ONE PARENT OF A CHILD WITH AN IEP WHO ATTENDS 28
A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE; 29
HOUSE BILL 1491 3
6. ONE PARENT OF A PUBLI C SCHOOL STUDENT IN THE 1
STATE; AND 2
7. TWO MEMBERS WHO REPRESEN T PRIVATE OR 3
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ONS WITH EXPERIENCE IN TRANSPORTATION OR 4
INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING. 5
(2) THE GOVERNOR SHALL DESIGNATE A CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION 6
FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS. 7
(3) EACH MEMBER SERVES FOR A TERM OF 3 YEARS. 8
(4) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE STAFF AND OTHER 9
NECESSARY SUPPORT TO THE COMMISSION. 10
(5) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION MAY NOT RE CEIVE 11
COMPENSATION FOR SER VING ON THE COMMISSION, BUT IS ENTITLED TO 12
REIMBURSEMENT FOR EX PENSES UNDER THE STANDARD STATE TRAVEL 13
REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET. 14
(6) THE COMMISSION SHALL MEET AT LEAST FOUR TIMES A YEAR, OR 15
AS NECESSARY TO FULFILL ITS DUTIES. 16
(D) (1) THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION IS TO IDEN TIFY, 17
COORDINATE, AND SECURE FUNDING F OR SAFE PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS 18
TRAVELING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. 19
(2) THE COMMISSION SHALL COLL ABORATE WITH LOCAL 20
GOVERNMENTS, STATE AGENCIES , AND RELEVANT STAKEHO LDERS TO DEVELOP 21
INFRASTRUCTURE, PROGRAMS, AND GRANT STRATEGIES. 22
(E) THE COMMISSION SHALL: 23
(1) CONDUCT AN INVEN TORY OF CURRENT SAFE PATHWAYS FOR 24
STUDENT TRAVEL; 25
(2) IDENTIFY GAPS IN SAFE PATHWAYS INFRASTRUCT URE AND 26
PROGRAMS; 27
(3) EVALUATE FUNDING NEED S AND OPPORTUNITIES , INCLUDING 28
FEDERAL GRANTS , STATE TRANSPORTATION FUNDS, PRIVATE GRANTS , AND 29
PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS; 30
4 HOUSE BILL 1491
(4) DEVELOP A STRATEGIC P LAN TO COORDINATE 1
INTERJURISDICTIONAL INVESTMENTS AND MAXIMIZE AVAILABLE FUNDING; 2
(5) RECOMMEND POLICIES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AN D STATE 3
AGENCIES TO MAXIMIZE AVAILABLE FUNDING; 4
(6) IDENTIFY INNOVATIVE P UBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MO DELS 5
TO FUND SAFE PATHWAYS; AND 6
(7) FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGA GEMENT, INCLUDING INPUT FROM 7
STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL. 8
(F) (1) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR , THE COMMISSION 9
SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE 10
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, 11
ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE 12
A REPORT THAT INCLUDES: 13
(I) AN ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT SAFE PATHWAYS; 14
(II) OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING , INCLUDING CURRENT 15
FUNDING BEING PURSUED; 16
(III) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR P OLICY AND INFRASTRUC TURE 17
IMPROVEMENTS; AND 18
(IV) THE PROGRESS IN IMPLE MENTING INTERJURISDICTIONAL 19
COORDINATION. 20
(2) THE REPORT MAY INCLUD E RECOMMENDATIONS FO R 21
LEGISLATION OR BUDGETARY A PPROPRIATIONS THAT T HE COMMISSION 22
CONSIDERS NECESSARY TO IMPROVE STUDENT S AFETY AND FUND 23
INFRASTRUCTURE. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 25
October 1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 7 years and, at the end of September 26
30, 2033, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 27
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 28