Real Property – Prohibition on Restrictions of Accessory Dwelling Units – Historic District Exemption
Summary
HB1236 amends Maryland’s transportation law to give municipalities in Queen Anne’s County explicit authority to lower speed limits on highways to as low as 15 miles per hour without first conducting an engineering and traffic investigation. The bill adds Queen Anne’s County municipalities to the list of local jurisdictions that already have special speed-limit-setting authority under § 21-803 of the Transportation Article.
Under current law, local authorities generally must base speed-limit changes on an engineering and traffic investigation, with limited exceptions for certain counties and Baltimore City. This bill creates a new county-specific exception for municipalities in Queen Anne’s County, allowing them to reduce posted speed limits on highways within their jurisdiction more quickly and with less procedural burden. The act takes effect October 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill directly amends § 21-803(a) of the Transportation Article in the Annotated Code of Maryland by adding a new exception for municipalities in Queen Anne’s County. As a result, those municipalities may set lower speed limits on highways without the usual engineering and traffic study requirement, down to a floor of 15 miles per hour. The change affects local traffic regulation, municipal transportation policy, and potentially enforcement practices on county highways.
Sentiment
The voting record indicates strong bipartisan or at least unanimous support, with the bill passing the House 138-0 and the Senate 42-0. No committee transcript was provided, but the recorded votes suggest the measure was viewed favorably and without significant opposition. The bill appears to have been treated as a narrow local-authority measure rather than a controversial statewide policy change.
Contention
No specific objections are reflected in the available materials, and the unanimous votes suggest little overt contention. The main policy issue inherent in the bill is whether municipalities should be allowed to reduce speed limits without an engineering and traffic investigation, which could raise concerns about traffic safety, consistency, and local discretion. However, no named opponents or competing viewpoints are documented in the provided context.