SB 384, the Metro Funding Modification Act of 2025, changes how Maryland calculates and requires state funding for capital costs of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The bill revises Maryland Transportation Article § 10-205 to replace the current fixed-dollar approach with a formula tied to the state’s proportionate share of a $500 million base amount, using the Metrorail Operating Subsidy Allocation Formula. That base amount is adjusted for inflation from fiscal year 2019 and then increased by 3% each year.
The bill also keeps and strengthens existing oversight conditions on Maryland’s WMATA funding. The Governor must continue to include a separate appropriation for WMATA capital costs from the Transportation Trust Fund, but the bill preserves requirements tied to WMATA reporting, audits, and corrective action plans. It allows the Governor to reduce Maryland’s appropriation if Virginia or the District of Columbia reduce their dedicated capital contributions, and it requires withholding 35% of Maryland’s appropriation if WMATA receives a modified audit opinion and has not submitted a satisfactory corrective plan.
SB 384 is contingent on both Virginia and the District of Columbia enacting matching legislation that provides dedicated WMATA capital funding using the same formula structure and annual 3% growth. The bill does not take effect unless those jurisdictions act first, and Maryland’s Department of Transportation must notify legislative services once both have done so. If triggered, the act would amend the state’s ongoing budget obligation for WMATA capital support and align Maryland’s funding formula with regional commitments.
Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided material, there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the record here. Based on the bill text, the measure appears designed to provide predictable, formula-based transit capital funding while adding accountability safeguards. The main policy tension is between increasing and indexing long-term WMATA funding and maintaining leverage over WMATA performance, financial reporting, and audit compliance, as well as ensuring Virginia and D.C. share in the same funding structure.
Impact
The bill would amend Maryland Transportation Article § 10-205(f) and (g) to change the state’s required WMATA capital appropriation from a fixed amount to a formula based on Maryland’s proportionate share of an inflation-adjusted $500 million base, with annual 3% growth. It would continue to require grants to the Washington Suburban Transit District for WMATA capital costs, keep the funding tied to the Transportation Trust Fund, and preserve oversight conditions involving WMATA audits, reporting, and corrective action plans. The bill’s operation is contingent on parallel enactment in Virginia and the District of Columbia, so it would affect Maryland law only if those jurisdictions adopt comparable dedicated funding legislation.
Sentiment
No committee discussion or vote history was provided, so there is no recorded legislative sentiment in the supplied materials. The bill text suggests a generally pro-transit, pro-funding approach paired with strong fiscal oversight and regional coordination requirements. Its structure indicates support for stable WMATA capital funding, but only with accountability conditions and matching action from Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely to be the size and growth of the required state contribution, the shift from a fixed appropriation to a formula that could increase over time, and the contingency on other jurisdictions enacting similar legislation. The bill also preserves the ability to withhold part of the appropriation based on WMATA audit results and corrective action plans, which may appeal to fiscal watchdogs but could be seen as restrictive by transit advocates. Any debate would likely center on whether the funding formula provides sufficient long-term support for WMATA while protecting Maryland taxpayers and ensuring regional fairness.
To provide a per diem allowance for Members of Congress for the costs of lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred because of travel to and from the Washington Metropolitan Area in order to cast votes in Congress, and for other purposes.