On February 12, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 249 – Vehicle Laws - Automated Enforcement - Reciprocal Agreements, Arrangements, and Declarations.  This bill authorizes the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administrator to establish reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions for the enforcement of certain traffic safety violations. HB 249 is a practical tool to improve roadway safety by setting a new standard for safety and accountability throughout…

On February 11, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Judiciary Committee in opposition to HB 466 – Civil Actions - Motor Vehicle Accidents Involving Vulnerable Individuals - Comparative Negligence.  The bill would create a new comparative fault standard in Maryland and upend the state’s well-established and carefully balanced contributory negligence standard, without any corresponding adjustments to other components of Maryland’s longstanding balanced approach to tort claims. This legislation would upend Maryland's longstanding contributory…

On February 10, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of SB 346 – Civil Actions - Violation of Constitutional Rights (No Kings Act) with amendments.  The bill establishes a path toward granting attorney’s fees in any case asserting a State constitutional claim. In practice, the bill would likely lead to an increase in litigation and costs for the State and local governments and create an unbalanced system that…