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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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*sb0473*
SENATE BILL 473
C5, R2, E4 6lr2251
CF HB 829
By: Senators Hettleman and Love, Love, and Hester
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 25, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Utilities – For–Hire Drivers and Transportation Network Operators – 2
Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Training and Liability 3
FOR the purpose of requiring an applicant for certain for –hire driver’s licenses and 4
transportation network operator’s licenses to submit to the Public Service 5
Commission documentation verifying that the applicant completed a certain human 6
trafficking awareness training program; prohibiting licensed taxicab drivers, 7
for–hire drivers, or transportation network operators and applicants for a 8
transportation network operator’s license from being held civilly or criminally liable 9
for reporting or responding to in good faith a suspected incident of human trafficking; 10
prohibiting a transportation network company from allowing certain applicants for 11
and holders of a transportation network operator’s license to provide transportation 12
network services using a digital network application if the applicant or license holder 13
has not completed a certain human trafficking awareness training program ; and 14
generally relating to for–hire drivers and transportation network operators. 15
BY renumbering 16
Article – Public Utilities 17
Section 10–404(g) and (h) 18
to be Section 10–404(h) and (i), respectively 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 22
Article – Public Utilities 23
2 SENATE BILL 473
Section 10–103(b), 10–104(a)(1), 10–104.1(b), and 10–106, and 10–404(b) and (c) 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3
BY adding to 4
Article – Public Utilities 5
Section 10–104.2 and 10–404(g) 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 8
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 9
That Section(s) 10 –404(g) and (h) of Article – Public Utilities of the Annotated Code of 10
Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 10–404(h) and (i), respectively. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 12
as follows: 13
Article – Public Utilities 14
10–103. 15
(b) (1) A county or municipal corporation may license taxicab drivers who 16
drive taxicabs that are based in that county or municipal corporation if, at a minimum, the 17
county or municipal corporation: 18
(I) conducts a criminal record check [and] OF EACH APPLICANT 19
FOR A LICENSE; 20
(II) CONDUCTS A driving record check of each applicant for a license; 21
AND 22
(III) REQUIRES THAT EACH APPLICANT FOR A LICENSE INCLUDE 23
IN THE APPLICATION D OCUMENTATION VERIFYI NG THAT THE APPLICAN T 24
COMPLETED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH 25
§ 10–104.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 26
(2) A taxicab driver licensed by a county or municipal corporation is not 27
required to be licensed by the Commission. 28
10–104. 29
(a) (1) An applicant for a for–hire driver’s license shall: 30
(i) submit to the Commission a completed application on the form 31
that the Commission provides; 32
SENATE BILL 473 3
(ii) state on the form that the applicant is applying for a 1
passenger–for–hire driver’s license or a taxicab driver’s license; 2
(iii) pay to the Commission an application fee set by the Commission; 3
(iv) 1. if the applicant is a Maryland driver, allow the 4
Commission access to the driver’s photograph through the Motor Vehicle Administration; 5
or 6
2. file with the application a recent photograph in a format 7
that the Commission specifies; [and] 8
(v) SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSION DOCUMENTATION VERIFYING 9
THAT THE APPLICANT C OMPLETED A HUMAN TRA FFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING 10
IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 11
(VI) apply to the Criminal Justice Information System Central 12
Repository of the Departme nt of Public Safety and Correctional Services for a State 13
criminal history records check as provided in subsection (b) of this section. 14
10–104.1. 15
(b) The Commission may approve an applicant and issue a temporary driver’s 16
license to the applicant if: 17
(1) the applicant provides all information that the Commission requires for 18
the application, including the information specified in item (2) of this subsection; [and] 19
(2) the Commission is satisfied with the successful submission of the 20
applicant’s: 21
(i) national criminal history records check: 22
1. conducted by a consumer reporting agency as defined 23
under § 14 –1201 of the Commercial Law Article or a comparable entity approved by the 24
Commission; and 25
2. that includes: 26
A. a Multi –State Multi–Jurisdiction Criminal Records 27
Database Search or a search of a similar nationwide database with validation; 28
B. a search of the Sex Offender Registry; and 29
C. a search of the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Sex 30
Offender Public website; and 31
4 SENATE BILL 473
(ii) driving record check that includes a driving history research 1
report; AND 2
(3) THE APPLICANT SUBMITS TO THE COMMISSION DOCUMENTATION 3
VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS 4
TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5
10–104.2. 6
(A) AN APPLICANT FOR A LI CENSE ISSUED IN ACCO RDANCE WITH § 7
10–103(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE OR UNDER § 10–104, § 10–104.1, OR § 10–106 OF THIS 8
SUBTITLE OR § 10–404 OF THIS TITLE SHALL INCLUDE IN THE APPLICATION 9
DOCUMENTATION VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED: 10
(1) (I) THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S LEADERS 11
AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING/COMBATTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE 12
TRANSPORTATION AWARENESS TRAINING; OR 13
(II) (2) ANY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN TRAFFICKING 14
AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM; AND. 15
(2) (B) A A HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION PROGRAM T HAT 16
PROVIDES AWARENESS TRAINING T HAT AN APPLICANT COM PLETES UNDER 17
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO: 18
(I) (1) RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF HUMAN 19
TRAFFICKING; 20
(II) (2) RESPOND TO AN INDIVI DUAL WHO MAY BE OR I S A 21
VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND 22
(III) (3) CONNECT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE OR IS A VICTIM 23
OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH AVAILABLE RESOU RCES REPORT SUSPECTED 24
INCIDENTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES. 25
(B) (C) A LICENSED TAXICAB DRI VER, OR FOR–HIRE DRIVER , OR 26
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK OPERATOR MAY NOT BE HELD CIVILLY OR CRIMINALLY 27
LIABLE FOR REPORTING OR RESPONDING IN GOO D FAITH TO A SUSPECT ED 28
INCIDENT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 29
10–106. 30
SENATE BILL 473 5
(a) The term of a for –hire driver’s license is not less than 1 year and not more 1
than 3 years, as the Commission sets. 2
(b) (1) An applicant for a renewal of a for–hire driver’s license shall: 3
(I) submit to the Commission an application on the form that the 4
Commission provides; AND 5
(II) INCLUDE IN THE APPLICATION DOCU MENTATION 6
VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS 7
TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8
(2) The Commission may renew the for–hire driver’s license by appropriate 9
endorsement on the license. 10
(c) The Commission shall keep on file with the original application of a driver a 11
complete record of: 12
(1) each for–hire driver’s license issued to the driver; and 13
(2) any renewal, suspension, and revocation of a for –hire driver’s license 14
issued to the driver. 15
10–404. 16
(b) The Commission may approve an applicant to be an operator and issue a 17
temporary transportation network operator’s license to the applicant if: 18
(1) the applicant provides all information that the Commission requires for 19
the application, including the information specified in item (2) of this subsection; [and] 20
(2) the Commission is satisfied with the successful submission of the 21
applicant’s: 22
(i) national criminal history records check: 23
1. conducted by a consumer reporting agency as defined 24
under § 14 –1201 of the Commercial Law Article or a comparable entity approved by the 25
Commission; and 26
2. that includes: 27
A. a Multi –State Mult i–Jurisdiction Criminal Records 28
Database Search or a search of a similar nationwide database with validation; 29
B. a search of the Sex Offender Registry; and 30
6 SENATE BILL 473
C. a search of the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Sex 1
Offender Public Website; and 2
(ii) driving record check that includes a driving history research 3
report; AND 4
(3) THE APPLICANT SUBMITS TO THE COMMISSION DOCUMENTATION 5
VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS 6
TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF THIS TITLE. 7
(c) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission may issue a 8
permanent transportation network operator’s license to an applicant [upon] ON the 9
submission of: 10
(1) a satisfactory supplemental criminal background check as set forth 11
under § 10–104(b) of this title; AND 12
(2) DOCUMENTATION VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED 13
A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF 14
THIS TITLE. 15
(G) AN APPLICANT FOR THE RENEWAL OF A TRANSPO RTATION NETWORK 16
OPERATOR’S LICENSE SHALL SUBM IT TO THE COMMISSION DOCUMENTAT ION 17
VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS 18
TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF THIS TITLE. 19
(G) (1) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO: 20
(I) SUBMITTED AN APPLICA TION FOR A TRANSPORT ATION 21
NETWORK OPERATOR’S LICENSE ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; AND 22
(II) COMPLETED, BETWEEN JUNE 1, 2025, AND NOVEMBER 30, 23
2026, A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING T HAT MEETS THE 24
REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 25
(2) A TRANSPORTATION NETWO RK COMPANY MAY NOT A LLOW AN 26
APPLICANT FOR A TRAN SPORTATION NETWORK O PERATOR’S LICENSE OR THE 27
HOLDER OF A TEMPORAR Y OR PERMANENT TRANS PORTATION NETWORK 28
OPERATOR’S LICENSE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK SERVICES USING A 29
DIGITAL NETWORK APPL ICATION UNLESS THE A PPLICANT OR LICENSE HOLDER, 30
WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE APPLI CANT OR LICENSE HOLD ER FIRST PROVIDES A 31
PREARRANGED RIDE, HAS COMPLETED: 32
SENATE BILL 473 7
(I) THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S LEADERS 1
AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING/COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE 2
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR AWARENESS TRAINING; 3
(II) ANY NATIONALLY RECOG NIZED HUMAN TRAFFICK ING 4
AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM; OR 5
(III) ANY DIGITAL TRAINING DEVELOPED BY A TRANSPORTATION 6
NETWORK CO MPANY IN CONSULTATIO N WITH A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED 7
ORGANIZATION WITH EXPERTISE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING. 8
(3) A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AW ARENESS TRAINING THA T AN 9
APPLICANT OR LICENSE HOLDER COMPLETES UND ER PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 10
SUBSECTION MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO: 11
(I) RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; 12
(II) RESPOND TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE OR IS A VICTIM OF 13
HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND 14
(III) REPORT SUSPECTED INC IDENTS OF HUMAN TRAF FICKING 15
TO APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES. 16
(4) AN APPLICANT FOR A TR ANSPORTATION NETWORK OPERATOR’S 17
LICENSE OR THE HOLDE R OF A TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT TRANSPORTA TION 18
NETWORK OPERATOR’S LICENSE MAY NOT BE HELD CIVILLY OR CRIMINALLY LIABLE 19
FOR REPORTING OR RES PONDING IN GOOD FAIT H TO A SUSPECTED INCIDENT O F 20
HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 21
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 22
October 1, 2026. 23
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.