MD HB811

County boards of education must annually prepare and post online a report identifying areas where students are ineligible for school bus transportation based on distance, along with safe walking routes (sidewalks, crosswalks, foot paths, or bike paths) from those areas to schools.

County governing bodies must annually review the school board's report and construct any sidewalks and crosswalks necessary to create safe alternative routes for students identified as lacking them.

When a required route improvement involves a road outside county jurisdiction, the county must develop a plan with the controlling governmental entity or person and make reasonable efforts to execute it expeditiously.

"Safe alternative route" is defined as roads with sidewalks and crosswalks at intersections, foot paths, or bike paths.

Effective date: July 1, 2025, and applies to all Maryland counties.