Maryland keeps school boards' authority to use other student vehicles

Maryland law removes the scheduled end date for county school boards’ authority to use certain other vehicles for student transportation. The authority covers county boards transporting certain public school students in vehicles other than the two defined types of school vehicles. The authority remains subject to the circumstances and rules set by those provisions. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, before the prior June 30, 2026 end date.

The State Department of Education must review rules for other vehicles used to transport public school students and report its findings. The review covers vehicles other than Type I and Type II school vehicles used to transport public school students. The review must examine vehicle requirements, driver preparation, and whether state rules can align with Public Service Commission rules without sacrificing student safety. The Department must report the review results by January 1, 2027; this law takes effect June 1, 2026.