Bill > SB20

This bill establishes a mandatory annual inflation adjustment for the Locally Operated Transit System Grant Program in Maryland. The bill defines "Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers" (CPI-U) as the monthly index published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that tracks the average cost of a basket of consumer goods and services. Starting in fiscal year 2026, the Governor must include at least $80,533,314 in the annual budget for the program, with subsequent years' appropriations automatically adjusted based on CPI-U growth. The annual increase will be calculated by multiplying the prior year's appropriation by the percentage growth in the CPI-U, but capped at 5%. If there is no growth or a decline in the CPI-U, the appropriation will remain the same as the previous fiscal year. This legislation aims to ensure that funding for local transit systems keeps pace with inflation, helping to maintain and potentially improve public transportation infrastructure. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0020?ys=2025RS