- **Prohibition on Restrictions**: Prohibits provisions in the governing documents of condominiums and homeowners associations from unreasonably restricting the installation or authorization of electric vehicle recharging equipment.

- **Budget Process**: Installation or authorization of electric vehicle recharging equipment must follow the ordinary budget process of the condominium or homeowners association.

- **Parking Consideration**: Governing bodies must consider the availability of sufficient parking to meet community needs before installing or authorizing the installation of electric vehicle recharging equipment.

- **Licensing**: Authorizes governing bodies to grant licenses for up to 3 years, renewable at their discretion, for the installation of equipment or supply of electricity to electric vehicle recharging equipment.

- **Retroactive Application**: The Act applies retroactively to any covenant, restriction, or provision in a declaration, bylaws, or rules recorded or adopted before the effective date of the Act. The bill aims to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle recharging equipment in condominiums and homeowners associations while ensuring community needs are met.

Key provisions include:

- **Information Access**: Manufacturers must make the same diagnostic and repair information available to owners and independent repair facilities as they do to their dealers.

- **Tool Availability**: Manufacturers must offer diagnostic and repair tools to owners and independent repair facilities on fair and reasonable terms.

- **Telematics Systems**: Manufacturers must install an open data platform in vehicles with telematics systems, allowing owners and independent repair facilities to access and use telematics information.

- **Consumer Rights Document**: The Consumer Protection Division must develop a document explaining telematics systems and consumer rights, which dealers must provide to consumers at the time of vehicle purchase.

- **Enforcement and Penalties**: Violations of the Act are considered unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practices and are subject to enforcement and penalties. The bill aims to ensure that vehicle owners and independent repair facilities have access to the necessary information and tools to repair and maintain motor vehicles.

Deceptive Practices Prohibition: Prohibits licensed vehicle dealers, obligors, and agents from making deceptive or misleading statements regarding mechanical repair contracts. Ensures testimonials from endorsers are truthful, accurate, and not deceptive.

Service Contract Compliance: Extends the provisions of the Maryland Consumer Products Guaranty Act to mechanical repair contracts.

Effective Date: October 1, 2025

The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

- **Human Safety Operators**: Requires a human safety operator to be present in certain fully autonomous vehicles operating on highways in Maryland.

- **Incident Reporting**: Mandates manufacturers of fully autonomous vehicles to submit incident reports to the Motor Vehicle Administration for any vehicle collision, traffic citation, disengagement event, or assault/harassment involving the vehicle.

- **Annual Reports**: Requires manufacturers to submit annual reports on disengagement events of fully autonomous vehicles.

- **Administration's Role**: The Motor Vehicle Administration must submit findings and recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the operation of fully autonomous vehicles. The bill aims to ensure the safe operation of fully autonomous vehicles and establish reporting requirements for incidents and disengagements.

Key provisions include:

- **Battery Stewardship Plan**: Requires producers to submit a battery stewardship plan to the Department of the Environment for approval.

- **Sales Restrictions**: Prohibits the sale of batteries or battery-containing products without an approved plan.

- **Advisory Council**: Establishes the Battery Stewardship Advisory Council to advise on implementation and review plans.

- **Collection and Recycling**: Mandates free, convenient, and equitable collection and recycling services for batteries.

- **Performance Goals**: Sets performance goals for collection rates and recycling efficiency.

- **Public Outreach**: Requires public outreach, education, and communication about the program.

- **Financing**: Details the financing method for implementing the program, including eco-modulated fees to encourage environmentally friendly designs. The bill aims to enhance battery recycling and reduce environmental impacts through a comprehensive stewardship program.

Key provisions include:

- Prohibiting a manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch from taking adverse action against a dealer for disclosing that the advertised price of a vehicle is the manufacturer's minimum allowable advertised price and that the dealer may offer a lower price for the vehicle.

- Ensuring that any consumer rebates, dealer incentives, price or interest rate reductions, or finance terms offered by a manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch are available to all dealers of the same line make.

- Prohibiting a manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch from requiring a dealer to alter or replace an existing dealership facility or denying any benefit for a dealer's failure to do so, unless the dealer violates certain laws. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Key provisions include:

Definitions: "Automated Driving System" refers to hardware and software capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis. "Dynamic Driving Task" encompasses all real-time operational functions required to operate a motor vehicle on a highway, including vehicle motion control, environment monitoring, and signaling. "Fully Autonomous Vehicle" denotes a motor vehicle equipped with an automated driving system designed to function without a human driver, including Level 4 or 5 systems as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers International. "Minimal Risk Condition" is a low-risk state a fully autonomous vehicle achieves when it cannot safely continue the trip. "Operational Design Domain" refers to operating conditions under which a given automated driving system is specifically designed to function, including environmental conditions, roadway characteristics, or time-of-day restrictions.

Operational Requirements: A fully autonomous vehicle may operate on a highway without a human driver and with the automated driving system engaged if: In the event of a system failure rendering the vehicle unable to perform the entire dynamic driving task, it will achieve a minimal risk condition. The vehicle operates in accordance with Maryland vehicle laws, unless an exemption has been granted by the Administration. The vehicle bears the required manufacturer's certification label indicating compliance with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards, including any exemptions granted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Law Enforcement Interaction Plan: Before operating a fully autonomous vehicle on a highway without a human driver and with the automated driving system engaged, the owner must submit a law enforcement interaction plan to the Administration.

The plan must include information on: Communication with a fleet support specialist available during the vehicle's operation. Procedures for safely removing the vehicle from the highway and proper towing steps. Methods to recognize whether the vehicle is operating autonomously. Any other necessary information, including details on hazardous conditions or public safety risks associated with the vehicle's operation.