MarylandCounty boards may use other vehicles and hire ride companies for student rides
County boards may keep using other vehicles for students who need them, hire ride companies for limited rides, and must review transportation rules.
What it does
County boards may continue using other vehicles for certain students when a school vehicle cannot reasonably be provided. They may also approve rides for another student group in writing.
County boards may hire a ride company even if it does not meet the education department’s usual standards. Its operator must pass required checks and meet other rules, and each ride can carry no more than two students.
The state education department must review rules for other vehicles that carry public school students, including driver readiness and how the rules compare with ride company standards.
Argument forThe added ride option could help county boards transport students when a regular school vehicle cannot reasonably be provided, including students in off-campus programs.
Argument againstAllowing some rides that do not meet the education department’s standards could mean less consistent vehicle and driver protections, even with other checks.
More detail
The law removes the June 30, 2026 end date for county boards’ authority to use other vehicles for student transportation. The listed students include preschool-age students, students with disabilities, homeless youth, children in foster care, students without school bus access, students placed in nonpublic schools, and students in certain off-campus programs. A school vehicle must not be reasonably available for the listed students. A board may also approve transportation for another student group through a written determination. The authority no longer ends June 30, 2026. This law takes effect June 1, 2026.
A county board may contract with a transportation network company to transport students under limited conditions. A ride may carry no more than two students at a time. The company may lack the education department’s vehicle and driver standards. Its operator must meet Public Service Commission standards, undergo a state background check and state and national fingerprint-based criminal history checks, use a vehicle designed for no more than 10 people including the driver, and meet the county board’s contract requirements. This authority takes effect June 1, 2026, and ends if the department adopts new student transportation regulations after its review.
The State Department of Education must review existing rules for other vehicles used to transport public school students and report its findings. The review covers rules for vehicles other than Type I or Type II school vehicles used to transport public school students. The department must consult county boards and the Motor Vehicle Administration. It must review vehicle and driver requirements and whether those rules can align with Public Service Commission rules without reducing student safety. The department must report its findings to legislative committees by January 1, 2027. The separate authority for county boards to contract with ride companies ends if the department later adopts regulations after its review.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Approved by the Governor Wes Moore - Chapter 682Became Law
- Apr 10Passed EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 10Third Reading PassedMajor
- Apr 10Senate Concurs House Amendments
- Apr 10Third Reading PassedPassed House
- Apr 8Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Apr 8Favorable with Amendments {Minor
- Apr 8Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and MeansMinor
- Mar 25
- Vote recorded On Third Reading (Amend). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24
- Vote recorded Bill is on Third Reading for Final Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 23Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
- Mar 20Referred Ways and MeansMinor
- Mar 19Third Reading PassedPassed Senate
- Mar 18Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 18Favorable with Amendments {Minor
- Mar 16Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentMinor
- Mar 3
- Vote recorded On Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19Hearing 2/27 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 19Hearing canceled
- Jan 29Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
- Jan 21First Reading Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentIntroduced
EducationTransportationPublic Safety