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SB0179 • 2026

Transportation - Study on Speed Limits - Interstate 495 and Connected Highways

Transportation - Study on Speed Limits - Interstate 495 and Connected Highways

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Benson
Last action
2026-02-11
Official status
In the Senate - Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Transportation - Study on Speed Limits - Interstate 495 and Connected Highways

Requiring the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the implications of requiring the speed limit to deviate by only 5 miles per hour at locations where a highway in the State connects to Interstate 495; and requiring the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Requiring the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the implications of requiring the speed limit to deviate by only 5 miles per hour at locations where a highway in the State connects to Interstate 495; and requiring the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.

  2. 2026-01-14 Senate

    First Reading Finance

  3. 2025-10-14 Senate

    Pre-filed

  4. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Transportation - Study on Speed Limits - Interstate 495 and Connected Highways

Official Summary Text

Requiring the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the implications of requiring the speed limit to deviate by only 5 miles per hour at locations where a highway in the State connects to Interstate 495; and requiring the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0179*

SENATE BILL 179
R1 6lr1188
SB 559/25 – FIN (PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Benson
Requested: October 14, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Finance

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Transportation – Study on Speed Limits – Interstate 495 and Connected 2
Highways 3

FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the 4
implications of requiring the speed limit to deviate by a certain number of miles per 5
hour at locations where a highway in the State connects to Interstate 495 ; and 6
generally relating to a study on speed limits on highways in the State that connect 7
to Interstate 495. 8

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 9
That: 10

(a) The Department of Transportation shall conduct a study on the implications 11
of speed limit changes on highways in the State that connect to I–495. 12

(b) The study shall: 13

(1) identify the highways in the State that connect to I–495; 14

(2) identify the speed limits on the highways in the State that connect to 15
I–495; 16

(3) analyze the traffic congestion over the past 5 years at locations where 17
highways in the State connect to I–495; 18

(4) analyze the prevalence of speeding tickets over the past 5 years at 19
locations where highways in the State connect to I–495; 20

(5) analyze the prevalence of accidents over the past 5 years at locations 21
where highways in the State connect to I–495; 22
2 SENATE BILL 179

(6) analyze other hazards and incidents over the past 5 years at locations 1
where highways in the State connect to I–495; 2

(7) analyze existing speed limits on the highways in the State that connect 3
to I–495; 4

(8) analyze the feasibility of requiring the speed limit to deviate by only 5 5
miles per hour at locations where a highway in the State connects to I–495; and 6

(9) if feasible, recommend measures for requiring the speed limit to deviate 7
by only 5 miles per hour at locations where a highway in the State connects to I–495. 8

(c) In conducting the study required under subsection (a) of this section, the 9
Department shall consult with local officials and stakeholders that have expertise and 10
familiarity with traffic safety iss ues faced by drivers who use highways in the State that 11
connect to I–495. 12

(d) On or before December 31, 2026, the Department shall report its findings and 13
recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 14
Government Article, the General Assembly. 15

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 16
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of June 30, 2027, this 17
Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 18
further force and effect. 19