Ridesharing regulations advance in Maryland legislature

With the clock on this year’s Maryland General Assembly session ticking down, lawmakers reached a deal that could clear the way for passage of a bill creating statewide regulations for ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft.
A bill sponsored by State Sen. Bill Ferguson has passed the full Senate, and the Baltimore city Democrat said the House is expected to vote on a version of the legislation on Monday night following a committee hearing and vote on Monday morning.
The legislative session is scheduled to end Monday.
“It’s traveled a very long way in a very short time,” Ferguson said.
The bills lay out a new regulatory category for the ridesharing companies that would separate them from the taxi industry. The new regulations would allow ridesharing-specific provisions like surge pricing.
Legislators made major breakthroughs during working sessions last week, when they reached agreements around licensing and fingerprinting requirements for drivers, Ferguson said. Along with the companies and the Public Service Commission, the hearings involved representatives from the taxi industry, insurance industry, local governments and consumer protection agencies. All parties ultimately agreed to the deal, according to Ferguson.
Ferguson offered the legislation for the second year in a row as Uber and Lyft remained deadlocked with the state’s PSC, which classified the companies in the same category as the taxi industry. Lawmakers raised numerous issues with the proposal at a Senate Finance Committee hearing in March. Ferguson said committee chairman Thomas “Mac” Middleton showed enthusiasm about passing the bill in the weeks since, which was a big step in getting a deal.
It comes with Uber’s endorsement.
“We applaud the Senate for moving SB868 forward and we urge the House to send the bill to the Governor’s desk,” said Uber spokesman Taylor Bennett.
UPDATE (4/13/15, 10:20 p.m.)
With about two hours left in the General Assembly session, the House version of the bill passed. The final vote of the full House of Delegates was 137-0. That means the bill is now going to Gov. Larry Hogan for signature. If he signs, the regulations will become law.

It's official, the #SineDieMiracle is complete. SB868 is going to Governor. Good day for ridesharing & innovation in MD. #mdpolitics

— Bill Ferguson (@SenBillFerg) April 14, 2015