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HB 1500

Commercial Driver's Licenses - Out-of-State Residents - School Buses or Passenger Vehicles

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ken Kerr

Maryland may issue a Class B CDL with school-bus or passenger endorsements to nonresidents who hold the equivalent license from a neighboring state.

First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations
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Bill Summary · HB 1500

Summary — HB 1500 (Maryland): Commercial Driver’s Licenses — Out‑of‑State Residents — School Buses or Passenger Vehicles

Note: “HB 1500” is a bill number used in multiple states for unrelated measures (e.g., Arkansas tax repeal, Indiana education bills). This summary covers the Maryland HB 1500 titled “Commercial Driver’s Licenses – Out–of–State Residents – School Buses or Passenger Vehicles” (introduced by Delegate Kerr).

Purpose / Intent

To permit the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to issue a Class B commercial driver’s license (CDL) with school‑bus or passenger‑vehicle endorsements to certain nonresidents — specifically, applicants who hold the equivalent Class B license and endorsements from a neighboring state. The stated intent is to increase flexibility for employers and drivers across state lines while preserving state CDL standards.

Key Provisions

  • Amends Transportation Article §16‑817 to add an exception to the existing prohibition on issuing CDLs to nonresidents.
  • New subsection (d): MVA may issue a Class B CDL with additional state‑issued endorsements to a nonresident who:
    1. Is not a Maryland resident; and
    2. Holds the equivalent of a Class B CDL and the appropriate equivalent endorsements from the driver‑licensing authority of a neighboring state.
  • Existing federal/state restrictions remain in force (e.g., age limits for interstate operation, hazardous materials endorsement restrictions as set elsewhere in law and federal regulations).
  • The bill text specifies an effective date; enacted legislative records also show a statewide effective date — see “Timeline / Status” below.

Who is Affected

  • Nonresident drivers from neighboring states who already hold equivalent Class B CDLs and school‑bus or passenger endorsements — they may be eligible to obtain a Maryland Class B CDL with the corresponding endorsements.
  • Maryland school systems, private school bus operators, transit and paratransit providers, and other employers that hire CDL Class B drivers may gain a larger hiring pool.
  • The MVA will implement the administrative change; procedural updates and staff training may be required.

Procedural / Timeline

  • Introduced and read first time February 13, 2025. Passed through legislative process (committee actions and floor votes) and enrolled.
  • Legislative record shows the bill was signed by the Governor on June 20, 2025.
  • Effective date in legislative actions is listed as September 1, 2025; the bill text itself states October 1, 2025. (There is a discrepancy between the enrolled/recorded effective date and the date stated in the bill text — confirm with the official session law or state register for the final effective date.)

Related / Administrative Notes

  • Companion/related measures noted in the materials: SB 884 (Maryland).
  • The bill does not remove or modify federal CDL safety standards; applicants must still meet all applicable state and federal requirements for commercial licensure and endorsements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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