Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB606: Maryland E-ZPass Commuter Fairness and Transparency Act of 2026
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
Requiring the Maryland Transportation Authority to submit a certain report to certain committees of the General Assembly by September 1, 2026, on E-ZPass discount plans and unused commuter trips that contains certain data; requiring the Authority to provide recommendations for lowering the amount of unused commuter trips and mitigating consumer harm; requiring the Authority, under certain circumstances, to submit a certain corrective action plan or eliminate certain forfeitures; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Maryland E-ZPass Commuter Fairness and Transparency Act of 2026 FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Transportation Authority to submit a certain report on E-ZPass discount plans and unused commuter trips that contains certain data; requiring the Authority to provide recommendations for lowering the amount of unused commuter trips; requiring the Authority, under certain circumstances, to submit a certain corrective action plan or eliminate certain forfeitures; and generally relating to unused commuter trips and the Maryland Transportation Authority. Preamble.
From the enrolled text, May 19, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Maryland E-ZPass Commuter Fairness and Transparency Act of 2026 FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Transportation Authority to submit a certain report on E-ZPass discount plans and unused commuter trips that contains certain data; requiring the Authority to provide recommendations for lowering the amount of unused commuter trips; requiring the Authority, under certain circumstances, to submit a certain corrective action plan or eliminate certain forfeitures; and generally relating to unused commuter trips and the Maryland Transportation Authority. Preamble WHEREAS, The Maryland Transportation Authority operates the E-ZPass, an all-electronic tolling system on Maryland toll facilities, which is used daily by hundreds of thousands of Maryland residents, commuters, and visitors; and WHEREAS, Under the current system, a missed toll payment as low as $4 can result in the assessment of administrative fees and penalties that represent a disproportionate percentage increase over the original toll amount, creating significant financial burdens for motorists; and WHEREAS, These fees and penalties often accumulate rapidly, particularly for individuals who may be unaware of an unpaid toll due to address changes, mail delivery issues, or delays in notification; and WHEREAS, Maryland's transition to all-electronic tolling, with the elimination of cash payment options, has removed a critical access point for individuals who are unbanked or underbanked, including residents of communities that experience banking deserts and …