Maryland Legislature Finishes the Job on 2-PC

Maryland General Assembly overrides the governor’s veto to pass commonsense safety legislation  

For 11 years, SMART-TD fought to make Maryland a safer place for railroaders and communities.

On the morning of August 3, 2026, that fight finally ended in a victory.

When the Maryland General Assembly gaveled into its special session, lawmakers wasted little time showing they stand with rail safety over politics.

Within the first hour, both the House of Delegates and the Senate voted by more than the required three-fifths majority to override the governor’s veto of HB 862 and made two-person freight crews (2-PC) the law in Maryland.

Not Just Another Bill 

HB 862 was the culmination of more than a decade of work by generations of SMART-TD leaders, legislative representatives, and members who refused to quit.

“This has been a very long and difficult 11-year battle,” Maryland State Safety and Legislative Director David Pendleton wrote to SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson following the vote.

That battle appeared to be over back in April when the legislation cleared both chambers of the General Assembly. Despite multiple assurances that the legislation would be signed into law, the governor vetoed it.

For many organizations, that would have ended the story. The Maryland State Board took a different approach. They jumped right back in the fight, better armed. 

Down But NOT Out 

Rather than accepting defeat, the Maryland State Board and the National Safety and Legislative Department got creative and went back to work.

National Safety and Legislative Director Jared Cassity, Deputy National Safety and Legislative Director Don Roach, and SLD Pendleton developed a campaign strategy that combined member engagement, media outreach, and targeted electoral work.

Maryland’s Legislative Representatives (LRs) carried that plan into their districts, while our members and retirees knocked on doors, volunteered, and helped elect lawmakers who understood the importance of railroad safety.

As Pendleton put it, “Teamwork made the dream work.”

Pendleton specifically recognized President Ferguson for his support, Cassity and Roach for their leadership, and Maryland’s LRs for executing the plan on the ground.

He gave a special thank you to longtime sponsors Delegate Dana Stein and Senator Arthur Ellis, champions who remained undaunted in the quest for the law of 2! He thanked House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Senate President Bill Ferguson, leaders who put railroaders and our safety above corporate interests. He thanked Delegate Michele Guyton, Delegate Linda Foley, Senator Dawn Gile, Senator Corey McCray and the many legislators who stood with Maryland’s railroad workers from beginning to end.

Most importantly, Pendleton recognized the members who volunteered their own time to help make this victory possible.

Among our Maryland brothers and sisters, Pendleton pointed to some of the members who helped him lead and organize this statewide effort, saying “I would like to thank the LO-023 team of Tom Cahill, Brittany Garris, Randy Martz, Chris Alexander and Jacob Stroman. Our membership picked well when they chose them to represent their Locals. They always answer when called upon, they never complain, and they ALWAYS execute. It is an honor to work with them, and I am truly appreciative. Special thanks to Brothers Benjamin Perry (1470) and Mike Sternfeld (Retired, 1470) for stepping up, knocking on doors, and working alongside our team. Working together to deliver the election victories for our members that laid the foundation for today’s success.”

Not “Politics as Usual”

SMART-TD has long said our political philosophy isn’t about Republicans or Democrats. It’s about who’s With Us and who’s Against Us.

This victory proved it. Our champions in the legislature who helped us secure the three-fifths supermajority needed to overcome the veto are all Democrats, however support in the General Assembly for the override was bipartisan.

In the House, Minority Leader Jason Buckel, along with Republican delegates Jim Hinebaugh, Kevin Hornberger, and Todd Morgan voted YES for the override. In the Senate, Republicans Mike McKay and Paul Cordeman voted YES.

Today the General Assembly reaffirmed that railroad safety is bigger than politics and that keeping qualified railroad professionals on freight trains is simply the right thing to do.

Maryland is safer today because SMART-TD refused to take “no” for an answer.