Bill > SB281

This bill, the Metro Funding Modification Act of 2026, requires the Governor to withhold 35% of the annual appropriation for grants to the Washington Suburban Transit District, which are intended to help pay for the capital costs of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), under specific circumstances. These circumstances include WMATA receiving a modified audit opinion and failing to submit a satisfactory corrective action plan, or if a rail or bus operator is terminated due to automation after July 1, 2028. The bill also alters how the amount the Governor must include in the annual budget for these grants is calculated, shifting from a fixed percentage increase to a base amount adjusted by a 3% annual increase for the State's proportionate share of the Metrorail Operating Subsidy Allocation Formula, starting in fiscal year 2029. Importantly, this Act is contingent on both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia enacting legislation that provides dedicated capital funding for WMATA, including mandatory appropriations and annual 3% increases, before it can take effect on June 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0281?ys=2026RS