Wicomico County - Sunday Hunting Time Restrictions - Repeal
HB0780 authorizes the State Highway Administration (SHA) to reduce certain posted speed limits on urban State highways by 5 miles per hour without first conducting an engineering and traffic investigation. The new authority applies to urban highways, as defined in the Transportation Article, and is limited to speed limits otherwise set under the general 30 mph and 35 mph categories for business districts, residential districts, and similar urban settings. The bill also requires SHA to give advance public notice of any proposed reduction by posting on its website and publishing in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected jurisdiction at least 30 days before taking action.
The bill further restricts automated enforcement by prohibiting the use of speed monitoring systems on any portion of an urban State highway where SHA has lowered the speed limit under this new authority, unless and until an engineering and traffic investigation is performed. That restriction lasts for six months after the speed limit decrease. The act takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB0780 amends Maryland Transportation law, specifically § 21-802, to create a limited exception to the usual requirement that SHA conduct an engineering and traffic investigation before changing a speed limit. It gives SHA new discretion to lower speed limits on qualifying urban State highways by a modest amount, while adding notice requirements and temporarily limiting speed camera enforcement in those locations. The bill affects SHA, local motorists, and jurisdictions with urban State highways, and it may influence how speed limits are adjusted in pedestrian-heavy or urbanized areas.
The available legislative record suggests the bill was treated favorably in committee, with the House adopting the committee report with amendments and advancing the bill to second reading. The overall tone appears supportive of giving SHA more flexibility to reduce speeds in urban areas, while still preserving some procedural safeguards. No vote breakdown or transcript is provided, so the record does not show significant opposition in the materials supplied.
The main point of contention is the balance between traffic safety and enforcement flexibility. Supporters likely view the bill as a way to lower speeds more quickly on urban highways where pedestrian activity and local conditions justify it, without the delay of a formal engineering study. Potential critics may be concerned about reducing speed limits without an investigation, the adequacy of the notice process, and the temporary ban on speed monitoring systems, which could limit automated enforcement during the six-month period after a reduction. The bill’s amendments suggest an effort to address procedural and enforcement concerns while preserving SHA’s new authority.