Title 2. Ambient Air Quality Control — Subtitle 11. Low Emissions Vehicle Program
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Envir. § 2-1101 (2026)
Title 2. Ambient Air Quality Control
Subtitle 11. Low Emissions Vehicle Program
§ 2–1101LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Administration” means the Motor Vehicle Administration.
(c)
“Program” means the low emissions vehicle program established under this subtitle.
(d)
“Transfer” includes acquire, purchase, sell, and lease.
Md. Code Ann., Envir. § 2-1102 (2026)
Title 2. Ambient Air Quality Control
Subtitle 11. Low Emissions Vehicle Program
§ 2–1102LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In consultation with the Administration and as provided under this subtitle, the Department shall establish by regulation and maintain a low emissions vehicle program that:
(1)
Is authorized by § 177 of the federal Clean Air Act; and
(2)
Is applicable to vehicles of the 2011 model year and each model year thereafter.
(b)
As part of the program, the Department shall establish new motor vehicle emissions standards and compliance requirements for each model year included in the program as authorized by § 177 of the federal Clean Air Act.
(c)
As part of the compliance requirements established under this subtitle, the Department may adopt by regulation motor vehicle emissions inspection, recall, and warranty requirements.
(d)
The Department or any other State agency may not adopt a regulation under this subtitle or any other provision of law that requires the sale or use of California reformulated gasoline in the State.
Md. Code Ann., Envir. § 2-1103 (2026)
Title 2. Ambient Air Quality Control
Subtitle 11. Low Emissions Vehicle Program
§ 2–1103LinkCopy Citation
To minimize the administrative impact of the program and to minimize the impact of motor vehicle emissions generated out of state on the air quality of this State, the Department:
(1)
May adopt California regulations, procedures, and certification data by reference; and
(2)
May work in cooperation with, and enter into contracts or agreements with, California, other states, and the District of Columbia to administer certification, in–use compliance, inspection, recall, and warranty requirements for the program.
Md. Code Ann., Envir. § 2-1103.1 (2026)
Title 2. Ambient Air Quality Control
Subtitle 11. Low Emissions Vehicle Program
§ 2–1103.1LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Heavy–duty vehicle” means a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating equal to or greater than 14,001 pounds.
(3)
“Medium–duty vehicle” means a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of not less than 8,501 pounds and not more than 14,000 pounds.
(b)
(1)
On or before December 1, 2023, the Department shall adopt regulations establishing requirements for the sale of new zero–emission medium– and heavy–duty vehicles in the State.
(2)
The regulations adopted under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:
(i)
Update existing regulations;
(ii)
Incorporate by reference the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulations, as revised and updated; and
(iii)
Subject to subsection (d) of this section, take effect starting with model year 2027.
(c)
(1)
The Department, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, the Department of General Services, the Maryland Energy Administration, and the Public Service Commission, shall prepare a needs assessment and deployment plan relating to the successful implementation of regulations adopted under this section.
(2)
The needs assessment and deployment plan shall assess and plan for:
(i)
The additional electrical capacity, transmission, distribution demands, and hydrogen fueling demands that will result from implementation of the regulations, and the ability of the State’s electric utilities, grid, and hydrogen infrastructure to meet those demands, based on publicly available information and existing analyses;
(ii)
The number of zero–emission medium– and heavy–duty vehicle recharging and refueling stations recommended for implementation of the regulations, and the costs, permitting processes, and timelines for installing those stations;
(iii)
The purchase incentives and other mechanisms recommended for successful implementation of the regulations, including incentives for recharging and refueling stations and related infrastructure, and the existing and potential sources of funding for those incentives and mechanisms; and
(iv)
The timeline, economic feasibility, and models available for transitioning medium– and heavy–duty vehicles in the State vehicle fleet, including State–contracted medium– and heavy–duty vehicles, to zero–emission vehicles.
(3)
On or before December 1, 2024, the Department shall submit the needs assessment and deployment plan to the General Assembly in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.
(d)
The Department may delay implementation of the regulations authorized under this section by one or more model years if, after consulting with the Department of Transportation, the Department of General Services, the Maryland Energy Administration, and the Public Service Commission, the Department determines, based on criteria identified through the needs assessment and deployment plan, that implementation of the regulations is not yet feasible.
Md. Code Ann., Envir. § 2-1104 (2026)
Title 2. Ambient Air Quality Control
Subtitle 11. Low Emissions Vehicle Program
§ 2–1104LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the Administration may not title or register, under Title 13 of the Transportation Article, a new motor vehicle that is subject to the provisions of this subtitle if the motor vehicle does not comply with the provisions of this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle.
(b)
Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a person may not transfer or attempt to transfer a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine that is subject to the provisions of this subtitle if the vehicle or engine does not comply with the program.
(c)
A person may not procure or attempt to procure, through fraud or misrepresentation, the title or registration of a motor vehicle that is subject to the provisions of this subtitle if the vehicle does not comply with the program.
(d)
The Department, in consultation with the Administration, may adopt regulations to prohibit the transfer of new motor vehicles or motor vehicle engines that are not in compliance with the provisions of this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Envir. § 2-1105 (2026)
Title 2. Ambient Air Quality Control
Subtitle 11. Low Emissions Vehicle Program
§ 2–1105LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Department shall, in consultation with the Administration, adopt regulations to exempt motor vehicles from the program.
(b)
Exemptions established under subsection (a) of this section shall be limited to:
(1)
Motor vehicles sold for registration out of the State;
(2)
Motor vehicles sold from a licensed dealer to another licensed dealer; and
(3)
Motor vehicles that would be exempted from the low emissions vehicle program established under California law.
(c)
For any motor vehicle exempted under subsection (a) of this section, the Administration shall note the exemption on the title of the motor vehicle.
Md. Code Ann., Envir. § 2-1106 (2026)
Title 2. Ambient Air Quality Control
Subtitle 11. Low Emissions Vehicle Program
§ 2–1106LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The enforcement and penalty provisions of Subtitle 6 of this title shall apply to a violation of this subtitle.
(b)
Each transfer or attempted transfer of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine in violation of § 2–1104(b) of this subtitle shall constitute a separate violation of the provisions of this subtitle.