On February 15, 2024, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 505- Public Utilities- Transportation Network Service- Assessment Cap Increase. This bill increases the cap on the per-trip assessment that local governments may impose on specified ride-sharing services from 25 cents to 50 cents.
Generally, a county or municipality that licensed or regulated taxicab services on or before January 1, 2015, either directly or through the Public Service Commission, may impose assessments on trips that originate within their jurisdictions. Except for an exempt jurisdiction (in practice, Baltimore City), an assessment may be up to 25 cents per trip. The revenue generated from the assessments must be used for transportation purposes.
Currently, several local governments impose a per-trip assessment on ride-sharing services. Assessment revenues fund local priorities across all modes of transportation, including working with nonprofits that provide transportation and delivery services to individuals who are disabled, seniors, and residents with limited incomes. These revenues also help counties offer resources to help mitigate the unfair advantage ride-sharing service providers enjoy at the expense of local taxicab operators.
SB 505’s cross-file, HB 1133, was heard on February 29, 2024 in the House Economic Matters Committee. Executive Director Michael Sanderson testified in support of this bill.
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