Annotated Code - Terminology - Clergy and Churches, Faith Institutions, and Places of Worship

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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HOUSE BILL 36
P1, P5 6lr0666
HB 2/25 – HRU (PRE–FILED) CF SB 93
By: Delegate Stewart
Requested: August 1, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Annotated Code – Terminology – Clergy and Churches, Faith Institutions, and 2
Places of Worship 3

FOR the purpose of altering certain terminology throughout the Annotated Code that refers 4
to a clergyman to refer to a member of the clergy and churches to refer to faith 5
institutions and places of worship; and generally relating to clergy, churches, faith 6
institutions, and places of worship. 7

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 9
Section 16–405(b)(1)(iii) and 26–904(d)(2)(ix) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Business Regulation 14
Section 5–602(a)(2) and 17–1803(e)(1)(i) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
Article – Commercial Law 19
Section 13–104(1), 14–401(l)(3), and 23–101(e)(2)(vi) 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2025 Replacement Volume) 22

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 23
Article – Corporations and Associations 24
Section 5 –301(b), 5 –301.1, 5 –302, 5 –304(b), 5 –305, 5 –307(b) and (c), 5 –310(a)(1), 25
5–311, and 5–312(a) and (b)(1) 26
2 HOUSE BILL 36

Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2025 Replacement Volume) 2

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 3
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 4
Section 3–2A–01(f)(2) and 9–111 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 7

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Criminal Law 9
Section 4–209(b)(1)(iii) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Economic Development 14
Section 10–301(k) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
Article – Education 19
Section 2–206(e)(4), 2–304(b)(1), 7–108(b)(1)(iv), and 7–404(g) 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 22

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 23
Article – Education 24
Section 11–202.1(h)(2)(i) 25
Annotated Code of Maryland 26
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 27

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 28
Article – Environment 29
Section 6–401(g)(2)(ix) 30
Annotated Code of Maryland 31
(2013 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 32

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 33
Article – Environment 34
Section 14–108(4), 15–505(b)(2)(v), and 15–810(b)(4) 35
Annotated Code of Maryland 36
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 37

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 38
Article – Family Law 39
HOUSE BILL 36 3

Section 2–403(a)(1) and 5–705(a)(3) 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3

BY adding to 4
Article – General Provisions 5
Section 1–108.1 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 8

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Health – General 10
Section 7–1003(i), 10–703, 19–301(o)(2), 19–403(3), and 19–4A–02(2) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Health Occupations 15
Section 1–401(a)(4)(ii) and 9–307(a) and (c) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19
Article – Labor and Employment 20
Section 8–208(b) and (c) 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2025 Replacement Volume) 23

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 24
Article – Natural Resources 25
Section 10–410(g)(1), (3), (5), and (6) 26
Annotated Code of Maryland 27
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 28

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 29
Article – Public Safety 30
Section 6–307(a)(1)(ii), 10–204(a)(1)(i), and 14–1001(a)(1) 31
Annotated Code of Maryland 32
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 33

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 34
Article – Real Property 35
Section 12–104(d) 36
Annotated Code of Maryland 37
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 38

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 39
4 HOUSE BILL 36

Article – State Government 1
Section 9–1010(a)(1) 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 4

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 5
Article – Tax – General 6
Section 11–204(b)(1) and (7) and 11–206(d)(1)(ii) 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 9

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Transportation 11
Section 8–714(b)(3)(ii), 8–742, 11–117(a), and 21–703(a)(3) and (g)(2) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16

Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 17

16–405. 18

(b) (1) In this subsection, “protected building” means: 19

(iii) a [church or other] place of worship. 20

26–904. 21

(d) (2) A license holder that obtains an entertainment permit under § 26–1103 22
of this title may allow an individual under 21 years of age to be present on the premises 23
while an alcoholic beverage is being served during any of the following events: 24

(ix) [church] event HELD BY A FAITH INSTITUTION; 25

Article – Business Regulation 26

5–602. 27

(a) This subtitle does not apply to a cemetery that: 28

(2) is owned and operated by: 29

(i) a county; 30

(ii) a municipal corporation; 31
HOUSE BILL 36 5

(iii) [a church; 1

(iv) a synagogue;] A FAITH INSTITUTION; 2

[(v)] (IV) a religious organization; 3

[(vi)] (V) a nonprofit organization created before 1900 by an act of 4
the General Assembly; 5

[(vii)] (VI) a family and does not conduct public sales; or 6

[(viii)] (VII) a State veterans agency. 7

17–1803. 8

(e) (1) An exhibitor need not get a trader’s license for a show if the show is 9
promoted by: 10

(i) a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION, as defined in § 5 –301(b) of the 11
Corporations and Associations Article; 12

Article – Commercial Law 13

13–104. 14

This title does not apply to: 15

(1) The professional services of a certified public accountant, architect, 16
[clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , professional engineer, lawyer, veterinarian, 17
insurance company authorized to do business in the State, insurance producer licensed by 18
the State, Christian Science practitioner, land surveyor, property line surveyor, 19
chiropractor, optometrist, physical therapist, podiatrist, real estate broker, associate real 20
estate broker, or real estate salesperson, or medical or dental practitioner; 21

14–401. 22

(l) (3) “Services” does not include the professional services of an accountant, 23
architect, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY, engineer, lawyer, or medical or dental 24
practitioner. 25

23–101. 26

(e) (2) “Retirement community” does not include: 27

6 HOUSE BILL 36

(vi) A retirement community that is owned by or affiliated with a 1
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious organization; 2

Article – Corporations and Associations 3

5–301. 4

(b) [“Church”] “FAITH INSTITUTION ” means any [church,] CHRISTIAN, 5
JEWISH, ISLAMIC, BUDDHIST, OR HINDU CONGREGATION, OR ANY OTHER religious 6
society, [or] congregation [of any sect, order], or denomination. 7

5–301.1. 8

Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle or in any other provision of law, this 9
part applies to every religious corporation formed in this State by any [church] FAITH 10
INSTITUTION. 11

5–302. 12

(a) The adult members of a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION may form a religious 13
corporation as provided in this part. 14

(b) The members shall: 15

(1) Elect at least four individuals to act as trustees in the name of and on 16
behalf of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION; and 17

(2) Prepare a plan of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION. 18

(c) The plan shall include: 19

(1) The purposes for which the religious corporation is formed; 20

(2) The name of the religious corporation and the [church] FAITH 21
INSTITUTION; 22

(3) The time and manner for election and succession of trustees; and 23

(4) The exact qualifications of individuals eligible: 24

(i) To vote at elections; and 25

(ii) To be elected to office. 26

5–304. 27

HOUSE BILL 36 7

(b) The articles of incorporation shall contain: 1

(1) The plan of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION; 2

(2) The address of the principal place of worship of the [church] FAITH 3
INSTITUTION; and 4

(3) The name and address of the resident agent of the [church] FAITH 5
INSTITUTION. 6

5–305. 7

If a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION forms a religious corporation, any assets held in 8
trust for the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION by any person shall be conveyed immediately 9
to the religious corporation. 10

5–307. 11

(b) Unless the plan provides otherwise, the trustees shall be elected and their 12
successors continued at the time and place ordinarily used for public meetings of the 13
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION, by the individuals who, according to the custom and usage 14
of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION, have a voice in the management and direction of 15
congregational or temporal affairs. 16

(c) Unless the plan permits otherwise, the minister of the [church] FAITH 17
INSTITUTION or, if there is more than one minister, the senior minister shall be a trustee 18
of the religious corporation, in addition to the trust ees required by § 5 –302(b)(1) of this 19
subtitle. 20

5–310. 21

(a) If any contest arises over the voting rights or the fair conduct of an election: 22

(1) Each contending party shall appoint one individual from among the 23
members of a neighboring [church] FAITH INSTITUTION of the same religious persuasion 24
or, if there is no such [church] FAITH INSTITUTION, from among the members of any other 25
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION; and 26

5–311. 27

(a) Members of a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION may separate from the [church] 28
FAITH INSTITUTION, form a house of worship, and employ a minister if: 29

(1) They are of sufficient number to form a house of worship and maintain 30
a minister; and 31

8 HOUSE BILL 36

(2) All debts and contracts incurred by them as members of the original 1
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION are discharged. 2

(b) When incorporated, the new [church] FAITH INSTITUTION is entitled to the 3
benefits of this subtitle relating to religious corporations. 4

5–312. 5

(a) If any [church] FAITH INSTITUTION organized since 1800 as a religious 6
corporation under any law of the State did not file its plan or articles of incorporation for 7
record in the proper office within the time required by law, but subsequently files its plan 8
or articles of incorporation in the proper office: 9

(1) The [church] FAITH INSTITUTION is a lawful religious corporation; 10

(2) The date of incorporation is the date of the plan or articles of 11
incorporation; and 12

(3) If otherwise lawful, every action of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION 13
from the date of incorporation is valid. 14

(b) There is a conclusive presumption in every court of the State that a plan or 15
articles of incorporation of a religious corporation were properly filed for record in the 16
appropriate office and that these records were lost or destroyed, if: 17

(1) It appears from the record book of the religious corporation or from any 18
other source that the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION adopted a valid plan or articles of 19
incorporation; and 20

Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 21

3–2A–01. 22

(f) (2) “Health care provider” does not include any nursing institution 23
conducted by and for those who rely upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer 24
alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church o r religious 25
denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION. 26

9–111. 27

A minister of the gospel, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , or priest of an 28
established [church of any denomination ] FAITH INSTITUTION may not be compelled to 29
testify on any matter in relation to any c onfession or communication made to him in 30
confidence by a person seeking his spiritual advice or consolation. 31

Article – Criminal Law 32
HOUSE BILL 36 9

4–209. 1

(b) (1) A county, municipal corporation, or special taxing district may regulate 2
the purchase, sale, transfer, ownership, possession, and transportation of the items listed 3
in subsection (a) of this section: 4

(iii) except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, within 100 5
yards of or in a park, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, school, public building, and other place 6
of public assembly. 7

Article – Economic Development 8

10–301. 9

(k) “Noncollegiate educational institution” means a noncollegiate educational 10
institution as defined in § 2–206 of the Education Article that: 11

(1) has received a certificate of approval from the State Board of Education; 12
or 13

(2) is an institution operated by a bona fide [church organization] FAITH 14
INSTITUTION. 15

Article – Education 16

2–206. 17

(e) (4) This subsection does not apply to [an] A NONCOLLEGIATE 18
EDUCATIONAL institution operated by a bona fide [church organization ] FAITH 19
INSTITUTION, including the Amish and Mennonite church parochial schools. However, 20
[an] A NONCOLLEGIATE EDUC ATIONAL institution that does not have a certificate of 21
approval from the State Boar d may not receive State funds, except that [an] A 22
NONCOLLEGIATE EDUCAT IONAL institution operated by a bona fide [church 23
organization] FAITH INSTITUTION is not required to have a certificate to receive State 24
funds for eligible students in the food service p rogram who are enrolled in nursery school 25
through the eighth grade. 26

2–304. 27

(b) (1) Before a private noncollegiate educational institution that operates in 28
this State ends operations, including those operated by bona fide [church organizations] 29
FAITH INSTITUTIONS, the chief administrative officer of the PRIVATE NONCOLLEGIATE 30
EDUCATIONAL institution shall file with the State Superintendent the original or a legible 31
copy of all essential records of the academic achievements of each former student of the 32
10 HOUSE BILL 36

PRIVATE NONCOLLEGIATE E DUCATIONAL institution who received instruction in any 1
combination of grades 9 through 12 or their equivalents. 2

7–108. 3

(b) (1) If written application is made to the county superintendent, the county 4
board shall provide for the use of a public school facility for: 5

(iv) Other civic, educational, social, or recreational purposes or 6
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION affiliated civic purposes. 7

7–404. 8

(g) A student whose parent or guardian objects in writing to hearing and vision 9
screening on the ground that it conflicts with the tenets and practice of a recognized [church 10
or religious denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION of which he is an adherent or member may 11
not be required to take these screenings. 12

11–202.1. 13

(h) With regard to a religious educational institution authorized to operate 14
without a certificate of approval under subsection (b) of this section, a person may not: 15

(2) Enroll a student in the institution unless, before enrollment, the person 16
gives written notice to and obtains a written acknowledgment from the student that: 17

(i) The institution’s instructional program is only designed for and 18
aimed at persons who hold or seek to learn the particular religious faith or beliefs of the 19
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious insti tution, and provides only educational 20
programs for religious vocations or purposes; 21

Article – Environment 22

6–401. 23

(g) (2) “Public and commercial building” includes: 24

(ix) [Churches] PLACES OF WORSHIP; 25

14–108. 26

The Department shall deny the permit if the Department determines that: 27

(4) The operation will constitute a significant physical hazard to a 28
neighboring dwelling unit, school, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, hospital, commercial or 29
HOUSE BILL 36 11

industrial building, public road, or other public or private property in existence at the time 1
of the application for the permit; 2

15–505. 3

(b) (2) Subject to valid existing rights, as that term is used in the federal 4
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, the Department may not issue, 5
extend or renew any permit: 6

(v) Within 300 feet of any public building, school, public park, 7
[church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, community or institutional building; or 8

15–810. 9

(b) The Department may deny the permit on finding that: 10

(4) The operation will constitute a subs tantial physical hazard to a 11
neighboring dwelling house, school, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, hospital, commercial 12
or industrial building, public road, or other public or private property in existence at the 13
time of application for the permit; 14

Article – Family Law 15

2–403. 16

(a) (1) A license shall read substantially as follows: 17

“State of Maryland and County of ........... To any individual authorized by the laws 18
of this State to perform a marriage ceremony. You are hereby authorized to join together 19
in matrimony according to the rules and ceremonies of your [church] FAITH INSTITUTION, 20
society or religious sect and the laws of this State, or according to the laws of this State, 21
the following individuals: 22

……………………………………………… 23
(state here name of intended party one) 24
……………………………………………… 25
(state here name of intended party two) 26
Given under my hand and seal of the Circuit Court for ………, this ……… day of 27
….………… (state here month and year).” 28

5–705. 29

(a) (3) A minister of the gospel, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , or 30
priest of an established [church of any denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION is not required 31
to provide notice under paragraph (1) of this subsection if the notice would disclose matter 32
in relation to any communication described in § 9–111 of the Courts Article and: 33

12 HOUSE BILL 36

(i) the communication was made to the minister, [clergyman] 1
MEMBER OF THE CLERGY, or priest in a professional character in the course of discipline 2
enjoined by the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION to which the minis ter, [clergyman] 3
MEMBER OF THE CLERGY, or priest belongs; and 4

(ii) the minister, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY, or priest 5
is bound to maintain the confidentiality of that communication under canon law, [church] 6
THE doctrine OF THE FAITH INSTITUTION, or practice. 7

Article – General Provisions 8

1–108.1. 9

“FAITH INSTITUTION” MEANS ANY CHRISTIAN, JEWISH, ISLAMIC, BUDDHIST, 10
OR HINDU CONGREGATION, OR ANY OTHER RELIGIO US SOCIETY, CONGREGATION, 11
OR DENOMINATION. 12

Article – Health – General 13

7–1003. 14

(i) (1) An individual shall be entitled to receive visits: 15

(i) From a lawyer that the individual chooses; 16

(ii) From a [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY that the 17
individual chooses; and 18

(iii) During reasonable visiting hours that the licensee sets, from any 19
other visitor. 20

(2) Each married individual in a licensed residential facility shall have 21
privacy during a visit by the spouse. 22

(3) If, for the welfare of the individual, visits are restricted, the restriction 23
shall be: 24

(i) Signed by the executive officer or administrative head of the 25
licensee; and 26

(ii) Made a permanent part of the individual’s record. 27

(4) Visits of an individual’s lawyer or [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE 28
CLERGY may not be restricted. 29

10–703. 30
HOUSE BILL 36 13

(a) Each individual in a facility shall be entitled to converse privately with and 1
receive visits: 2

(1) At all reasonable hours, from a lawyer that the individual chooses; 3

(2) At all reasonable hours, from a [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY 4
that the individual chooses; and 5

(3) During reasonable visiting hours that the facility sets, from any other 6
visitor if the individual wishes to see the visitor. 7

(b) If an individual refuses to see a visitor, the refusal shall be made a permanent 8
part of the individual’s record. 9

(c) (1) If, for medically justified reasons, visits or private conversations are 10
restricted, the restriction and the reasons for the restriction shall be: 11

(i) Signed by a physician; 12

(ii) Dated as to when the restriction expires; 13

(iii) Made a permanent part of the individual’s record; and 14

(iv) Reviewed every 30 days if the restriction remains in effect. 15

(2) Visits of an individual’s lawyer or [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE 16
CLERGY may not be restricted during reasonable hours. 17

19–301. 18

(o) (2) “Related institution” does not include a nursing facility or visiting nurse 19
service that is conducted only by or for adherents of a bona fide [church] FAITH 20
INSTITUTION or religious organization, in accordance with tenets and practices that 21
include reliance on treatment by spiritual means alone for healing. 22

19–403. 23

This subtitle does not: 24

(3) Prohibit the care of an individual who relies on treatment in accordance 25
with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church or religious denomination ] FAITH 26
INSTITUTION and, with or without compensation, is cared for in accordance with those 27
tenets and practices. 28

19–4A–02. 29
14 HOUSE BILL 36

This subtitle does not: 1

(2) Prohibit the care of an individual who relies on treatment in accordance 2
with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church or religious denomination ] FAITH 3
INSTITUTION and, with or without compensation, is provided care in accordance with those 4
tenets and practices. 5

Article – Health Occupations 6

1–401. 7

(a) (4) (ii) “Provider of health care” does not include any nursing institution 8
that is conducted by and for those who rely on treatment by spiritual means through prayer 9
alone in accordance with the t enets and practices of a recognized [church or religious 10
denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION. 11

9–307. 12

(a) In this section, “certified institution” means an institution that: 13

(1) Cares for and treats the sick in accordance with the teachings of any 14
recognized [church or religious denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION that teaches reliance 15
on spiritual means through prayer alone for healing; and 16

(2) Is certified by that [church or religious denomination ] FAITH 17
INSTITUTION to provide this care and treatment. 18

(c) An applicant qualifies for a limited license only if a recognized [church or 19
religious denomination ] FAITH INSTITUTION that teaches reliance on spiritual means 20
through prayer alone for healing approves the applicant as qualified to administer certified 21
institutions. 22

Article – Labor and Employment 23

8–208. 24

(b) Employment is not covered employment if the employment is performed for: 25

(1) a [church or an association or convention of churches ] FAITH 26
INSTITUTION OR AN ASSOCIATION OR CONVENTION OF FAITH INSTITUTIONS; or 27

(2) an organization that is: 28

(i) operated primarily for religious purposes; and 29

HOUSE BILL 36 15

(ii) controlled, operated, principally supported, or supervised by a 1
[church or an association or convention of churches ] FAITH INSTITUTION OR AN 2
ASSOCIATION OR CONVENTION OF FAITH INSTITUTIONS. 3

(c) Employment is not covered employment if the employment is performed by: 4

(1) a commissioned, licensed, or ordained minister of a [church] FAITH 5
INSTITUTION in the exercise of the ministry; or 6

(2) a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties required by the 7
order. 8

Article – Natural Resources 9

10–410. 10

(g) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a 11
person, other than the owner or occupant, while hunting for any wild bird or mammal may 12
not shoot or discharge any firearm or other deadly weapon within 150 yards, known as the 13
“safety zone”, of a dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , or other 14
building or camp occupied by human beings, or shoot at any wild bird or mammal while it 15
is within this area, without the specific advance permission of the owner or occupant. 16

(3) (i) For archery hunters in Allegany County, Calvert County, Carroll 17
County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Harford County, Montgomery 18
County, St. Mary’s County, Washington County, Worcester County, or Wicomico County, 19
the safety zone described in paragraph (1) of this subsection extends for 50 yards from a 20
dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, or any other building or camp 21
occupied by human beings. 22

(ii) For archery hunters in Anne Arundel County, the safety zone 23
described in paragraph (1) of this subsection extends for 100 yards from a dwelling house, 24
residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, or any other building or camp occupied by human 25
beings. 26

(iii) In Howard County, for archery hunters who are hunting under 27
the authority of a deer management permit, or who are actively participating in a hunting 28
program administered by the county, the safety zone described in paragraph (1) of this 29
subsection extends for 50 yards from a dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF 30
WORSHIP, or any other building or camp occupied by humans. 31

(5) In Harford County, an archery hunter sha ll use a tree stand when 32
hunting any wild bird or mammal within 50 to 100 yards of a dwelling house, residence, 33
[church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , public or nonpublic school, or other building or camp 34
occupied by human beings. 35

16 HOUSE BILL 36

(6) (i) In Montgomery County or Washington County, an archery 1
hunter shall be in an elevated position that allows the hunter to shoot in a downward 2
trajectory when hunting any wild bird or mammal within 50 to 100 yards of a dwelling 3
house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , public or nonpublic school, or other 4
building or camp occupied by human beings. 5

(ii) In Howard County, for archery hunters who are hunting under 6
the authority of a deer management permit, or who are actively participating in a hunting 7
program administered by the county, shall be in an elevated position that allows the 8
hunters to shoot in a downward trajectory when hunting any wild bird or mammal within 9
50 to 150 yards of a dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , public or 10
nonpublic school, or other building or camp occupied by human beings. 11

Article – Public Safety 12

6–307. 13

(a) (1) The State Fire Marshal shall inspect for fire exits and reasonable safety 14
standards: 15

(ii) all schools, theaters, [churches] PLACES OF WORSHIP , and 16
other places of public assembly. 17

10–204. 18

(a) (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a mixing building 19
or storage building of a fireworks plant shall be located at least: 20

(i) 1,000 feet from a school, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, hospital, 21
place of public assembly, or gasoline or fuel oil storage building or service station; and 22

14–1001. 23

(a) In this section, “structure” means: 24

(1) a [church, chapel,] PLACE OF WORSHIP or convent; 25

Article – Real Property 26

12–104. 27

(d) The damages to be awarded for the taking of a structure, such as a [church or 28
place of religious worship ] PLACE OF WORSHIP , held in fee simple, or under a lease 29
renewable forever, by or for the benefit of a religious body and regularly used by the 30
religious body, are the cost of reproducing or replacing the improvements, adjusted for 31
HOUSE BILL 36 17

physical and functional depreciation, to which shall be added the fair market value of the 1
land. 2

Article – State Government 3

9–1010. 4

(a) The Archives: 5

(1) shall collect p ublic and private records and other information that 6
relate to the history of the province and State of Maryland from the earliest times, including 7
[church] records OF FAITH INSTITUTIONS and newspapers; 8

Article – Tax – General 9

11–204. 10

(b) The sales and use tax does not apply to a sale by: 11

(1) a bona fide [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious organization, if 12
the sale is made for the general purposes of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or 13
organization; 14

(7) subject to subsection (e) of this section, a bona fide [church] FAITH 15
INSTITUTION, religious organization, or other nonprofit organization exempt from taxation 16
under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code if: 17

(i) the sale is made at an auction sale; and 18

(ii) the proceeds of the sale are used to carry on the exempt purposes 19
of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or organization; or 20

11–206. 21

(d) The sales and use tax does not apply to: 22

(1) a sale of food: 23

(ii) by a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious organization; 24

Article – Transportation 25

8–714. 26

(b) A permit is not required under this section to erect or maintain any outdoor 27
sign: 28
18 HOUSE BILL 36

(3) That is used only to advertise: 1

(ii) A county [or church] fair held in this State OR A FAIR HELD IN 2
THIS STATE BY A FAITH INSTITUTION; 3

8–742. 4

This part does not prohibit the erection or maintenance of: 5

(1) Any on premise outdoor sign that complies with § 8–744 of this subtitle; 6

(2) Any outdoor sign used to identify a [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP or a 7
historical monument or locatio n, if the sign is erected in accordance with the rules and 8
regulations of the Administration; or 9

(3) Any outdoor sign along a highway that is not an expressway, even if the 10
highway runs parallel or partially parallel to an expressway, if the sign faces that highway. 11

11–117. 12

(a) “Educational purposes” includes those activities of schools certified by the 13
Department of Education, activities of centers for individuals with an intellectual disability 14
and physically handicapped individuals, [church schools ] SCHOOLS OPERATED BY A 15
FAITH INSTITUTION , Sunday schools and [church] FAITH INSTITUTION related 16
functions, child care centers, day camps, or summer camps, or any other activity that 17
provides some educational experience for its participants. 18

21–703. 19

(a) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, this section applies to: 20

(3) Every bus that is owned or operated by a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION 21
and carrying any passenger; 22

(g) (2) This section does not apply to school buses and [church] buses THAT 23
ARE OWNED OR OPERATED BY A FAITH INSTITUTION, as described in subsection (a)(2) 24
and (3) of this section, at locations within Baltimore City where complying with the 25
provision of this section would conflict with the existing traffic signal indications. 26

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 27
October 1, 2026. 28