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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0093*
SENATE BILL 93
P1, P5 6lr0665
SB 24/25 – EEE (PRE–FILED) CF HB 36
By: Senator Kagan
Requested: August 1, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 3, 2026
CHAPTER ______
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
2 SENATE BILL 93
(2025 Replacement Volume) 1
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 2
Article – Corporations and Associations 3
Section 5 –301(b), 5 –301.1, 5 –302, 5 –304(b), 5 –305, 5 –307(b) and (c), 5 –310(a)(1), 4
5–311, and 5–312(a) and (b)(1) 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2025 Replacement Volume) 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 9
Section 3–2A–01(f)(2) and 9–111 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Criminal Law 14
Section 4–209(b)(1)(iii) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
Article – Economic Development 19
Section 10–301(k) 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 22
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 23
Article – Education 24
Section 2–206(e)(4), 2–304(b)(1), 7–108(b)(1)(iv), and 7–404(g) 25
Annotated Code of Maryland 26
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 27
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 28
Article – Education 29
Section 11–202.1(h)(2)(i) 30
Annotated Code of Maryland 31
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 32
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 33
Article – Environment 34
Section 6–401(g)(2)(ix) 35
Annotated Code of Maryland 36
(2013 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 37
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 38
Article – Environment 39
SENATE BILL 93 3
Section 14–108(4), 15–505(b)(2)(v), and 15–810(b)(4) 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 4
Article – Family Law 5
Section 2–403(a)(1) and 5–705(a)(3) 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 8
BY adding to 9
Article – General Provisions 10
Section 1–108.1 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Health – General 15
Section 7–1003(i), 10–703, 19–301(o)(2), 19–403(3), and 19–4A–02(2) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19
Article – Health Occupations 20
Section 1–401(a)(4)(ii) and 9–307(a) and (c) 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 23
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 24
Article – Labor and Employment 25
Section 8–208(b) and (c) 26
Annotated Code of Maryland 27
(2025 Replacement Volume) 28
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 29
Article – Natural Resources 30
Section 10–410(g)(1), (3), (5), and (6) 31
Annotated Code of Maryland 32
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 33
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 34
Article – Public Safety 35
Section 6–307(a)(1)(ii), 10–204(a)(1)(i), and 14–1001(a)(1) 36
Annotated Code of Maryland 37
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 38
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 39
4 SENATE BILL 93
Article – Real Property 1
Section 12–104(d) 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 4
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 5
Article – State Government 6
Section 9–1010(a)(1) 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Tax – General 11
Section 11–204(b)(1) and (7) and 11–206(d)(1)(ii) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Transportation 16
Section 8–714(b)(3)(ii), 8–742, 11–117(a), and 21–703(a)(3) and (g)(2) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 22
16–405. 23
(b) (1) In this subsection, “protected building” means: 24
(iii) a [church or other] place of worship. 25
26–904. 26
(d) (2) A license holder that obtains an entertainment permit under § 26–1103 27
of this title may allow an individual under 21 years of age to be present on the premises 28
while an alcoholic beverage is being served during any of the following events: 29
(ix) [church] event HELD BY A FAITH INSTITUTION; 30
Article – Business Regulation 31
5–602. 32
(a) This subtitle does not apply to a cemetery that: 33
SENATE BILL 93 5
(2) is owned and operated by: 1
(i) a county; 2
(ii) a municipal corporation; 3
(iii) [a church; 4
(iv) a synagogue;] A FAITH INSTITUTION; 5
[(v)] (IV) a religious organization; 6
[(vi)] (V) a nonprofit organization created before 1900 by an act of 7
the General Assembly; 8
[(vii)] (VI) a family and does not conduct public sales; or 9
[(viii)] (VII) a State veterans agency. 10
17–1803. 11
(e) (1) An exhibitor need not get a trader’s license for a show if the show is 12
promoted by: 13
(i) a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION, as defined in § 5 –301(b) of the 14
Corporations and Associations Article; 15
Article – Commercial Law 16
13–104. 17
This title does not apply to: 18
(1) The professional services of a certified public accountant, architect, 19
[clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , professional engineer, lawyer, veterinarian, 20
insurance company authorized to do business in the State, insurance producer licensed by 21
the State, Christian Science practitioner, land surveyor, property line surveyor, 22
chiropractor, optometrist, physical therapist, podiatrist, real estate broker, associate real 23
estate broker, or real estate salesperson, or medical or dental practitioner; 24
14–401. 25
(l) (3) “Services” does not include the professional services of an accountant, 26
architect, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY, engineer, lawyer, or medical or dental 27
practitioner. 28
6 SENATE BILL 93
23–101. 1
(e) (2) “Retirement community” does not include: 2
(vi) A retirement community that is owned by or affiliated with a 3
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious organization; 4
Article – Corporations and Associations 5
5–301. 6
(b) [“Church”] “FAITH INSTITUTION ” means any [church,] CHRISTIAN, 7
JEWISH, ISLAMIC, BUDDHIST, OR HINDU CONGREGATION, OR ANY OTHER religious 8
society, [or] congregation [of any sect, order], or denomination. 9
5–301.1. 10
Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle or in any other provision o f law, this 11
part applies to every religious corporation formed in this State by any [church] FAITH 12
INSTITUTION. 13
5–302. 14
(a) The adult members of a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION may form a religious 15
corporation as provided in this part. 16
(b) The members shall: 17
(1) Elect at least four individuals to act as trustees in the name of and on 18
behalf of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION; and 19
(2) Prepare a plan of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION. 20
(c) The plan shall include: 21
(1) The purposes for which the religious corporation is formed; 22
(2) The name of the religious corporation and the [church] FAITH 23
INSTITUTION; 24
(3) The time and manner for election and succession of trustees; and 25
(4) The exact qualifications of individuals eligible: 26
(i) To vote at elections; and 27
SENATE BILL 93 7
(ii) To be elected to office. 1
5–304. 2
(b) The articles of incorporation shall contain: 3
(1) The plan of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION; 4
(2) The address of the principal place of worship of the [church] FAITH 5
INSTITUTION; and 6
(3) The name and address of the resident agent of the [church] FAITH 7
INSTITUTION. 8
5–305. 9
If a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION forms a religious corporation, any assets held in 10
trust for the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION by any person shall be conveyed immediately 11
to the religious corporation. 12
5–307. 13
(b) Unless the plan provides otherwise, the trustees shall be elected and their 14
successors continued at the time and place ordinarily used for public meetings of the 15
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION, by the individuals who, according to the custom and usage 16
of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION, have a voice in the management and direction of 17
congregational or temporal affairs. 18
(c) Unless the plan permits otherwise, the minister of the [church] FAITH 19
INSTITUTION or, if there is more than one minister, the senior minister shall be a trustee 20
of the religious corporation, in addition to the trustees required by § 5 –302(b)(1) of this 21
subtitle. 22
5–310. 23
(a) If any contest arises over the voting rights or the fair conduct of an election: 24
(1) Each contending party shall appoint one individual from among the 25
members of a neighboring [church] FAITH INSTITUTION of the same religious persuasion 26
or, if there is no such [church] FAITH INSTITUTION, from among the members of any other 27
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION; and 28
5–311. 29
8 SENATE BILL 93
(a) Members of a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION may separate from the [church] 1
FAITH INSTITUTION, form a house of worship, and employ a minister if: 2
(1) They are of sufficient number to form a house of worship and maintain 3
a minister; and 4
(2) All debts and contracts incurred by them as members of the original 5
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION are discharged. 6
(b) When incorporated, the new [church] FAITH INSTITUTION is entitled to the 7
benefits of this subtitle relating to religious corporations. 8
5–312. 9
(a) If any [church] FAITH INSTITUTION organized since 1800 as a religious 10
corporation under any law of the State did not file its plan or articles of incorporatio n for 11
record in the proper office within the time required by law, but subsequently files its plan 12
or articles of incorporation in the proper office: 13
(1) The [church] FAITH INSTITUTION is a lawful religious corporation; 14
(2) The date of incorporation is the date of the plan or articles of 15
incorporation; and 16
(3) If otherwise lawful, every action of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION 17
from the date of incorporation is valid. 18
(b) There is a conclusive presumption in every court of the State that a plan or 19
articles of incorporation of a religious corporation were properly filed for record in the 20
appropriate office and that these records were lost or destroyed, if: 21
(1) It appears from the record book of the religious corporation or from any 22
other source t hat the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION adopted a valid plan or articles of 23
incorporation; and 24
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 25
3–2A–01. 26
(f) (2) “Health care provider” does not include any nursing institution 27
conducted by and for those who rely upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer 28
alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church or religious 29
denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION. 30
9–111. 31
SENATE BILL 93 9
A minister of the gospel, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , or priest of an 1
established [church of any denomination ] FAITH INSTITUTION may not be compelled to 2
testify on any matter in relation to any confession or communication made to him in 3
confidence by a person seeking his spiritual advice or consolation. 4
Article – Criminal Law 5
4–209. 6
(b) (1) A county, municipal corporation, or special taxing district may regulate 7
the purchase, sale, transfer, ownership, possession, and transportation of the items listed 8
in subsection (a) of this section: 9
(iii) except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, within 100 10
yards of or in a park, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, school, public building, and other place 11
of public assembly. 12
Article – Economic Development 13
10–301. 14
(k) “Noncollegiate educational institution” means a noncollegiate educational 15
institution as defined in § 2–206 of the Education Article that: 16
(1) has received a certificate of approval from the State Board of Education; 17
or 18
(2) is an institution operated by a bona fide [church organization] FAITH 19
INSTITUTION. 20
Article – Education 21
2–206. 22
(e) (4) This subsection does not apply to [an] A NONCOLLEGIATE 23
EDUCATIONAL institution operated by a bona fide [church organization ] FAITH 24
INSTITUTION, including the Amish and Mennonite church parochial schools. However, 25
[an] A NONCOLLEGIATE EDUC ATIONAL institution that does not have a certificate of 26
approval from the State Board may not receive State funds, except that [an] A 27
NONCOLLEGIATE EDUCAT IONAL institution operated by a bona fide [church 28
organization] FAITH INSTITUTION is not required to have a certificate to receive State 29
funds for eligible students in the food service program who are enrolled in nursery school 30
through the eighth grade. 31
2–304. 32
10 SENATE BILL 93
(b) (1) Before a private noncollegiate educational institution that opera tes in 1
this State ends operations, including those operated by bona fide [church organizations] 2
FAITH INSTITUTIONS, the chief administrative officer of the PRIVATE NONCOLLEGIATE 3
EDUCATIONAL institution shall file with the State Superintendent the original or a legible 4
copy of all essential records of the academic achievements of each former student of the 5
PRIVATE NONCOLLEGIATE EDUCATIONAL institution who received instruction in any 6
combination of grades 9 through 12 or their equivalents. 7
7–108. 8
(b) (1) If written application is made to the county superintendent, the county 9
board shall provide for the use of a public school facility for: 10
(iv) Other civic, educational, social, or recreational purposes or 11
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION affiliated civic purposes. 12
7–404. 13
(g) A student whose parent or guardian objects in writing to hearing and vision 14
screening on the ground that it conflicts with the tenets and practice of a recognized [church 15
or religious denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION of which he is an adherent or member may 16
not be required to take these screenings. 17
11–202.1. 18
(h) With regard to a religious educational institution authorized to operate 19
without a certificate of approval under subsection (b) of this section, a person may not: 20
(2) Enroll a student in the institution unless, before enrollment, the person 21
gives written notice to and obtains a written acknowledgment from the student that: 22
(i) The institution’s instructional program is only designed for and 23
aimed at persons who hold or see k to learn the particular religious faith or beliefs of the 24
[church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious institution, and provides only educational 25
programs for religious vocations or purposes; 26
Article – Environment 27
6–401. 28
(g) (2) “Public and commercial building” includes: 29
(ix) [Churches] PLACES OF WORSHIP; 30
14–108. 31
SENATE BILL 93 11
The Department shall deny the permit if the Department determines that: 1
(4) The operation will constitute a significant physical hazard to a 2
neighboring dwelling unit, school, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, hospital, commercial or 3
industrial building, public road, or other public or private property in existence at the time 4
of the application for the permit; 5
15–505. 6
(b) (2) Subject to valid existing rights, as that term is used in the fe deral 7
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, the Department may not issue, 8
extend or renew any permit: 9
(v) Within 300 feet of any public building, school, public park, 10
[church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, community or institutional building; or 11
15–810. 12
(b) The Department may deny the permit on finding that: 13
(4) The operation will constitute a substantial physical hazard to a 14
neighboring dwelling house, school, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, hospital, commercial 15
or industrial building, public road, or other public or private property in existence at the 16
time of application for the permit; 17
Article – Family Law 18
2–403. 19
(a) (1) A license shall read substantially as follows: 20
“State of Maryland and County of ........... To any individual authorized b y the laws 21
of this State to perform a marriage ceremony. You are hereby authorized to join together 22
in matrimony according to the rules and ceremonies of your [church] FAITH INSTITUTION, 23
society or religious sect and the laws of this State, or according to the laws of this State, 24
the following individuals: 25
……………………………………………… 26
(state here name of intended party one) 27
……………………………………………… 28
(state here name of intended party two) 29
Given under my hand and seal of the Circuit Court for ………, this ……… day of 30
….………… (state here month and year).” 31
5–705. 32
12 SENATE BILL 93
(a) (3) A minister of the gospel, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , or 1
priest of an established [church of any denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION is not required 2
to provide notice under paragraph (1) of this subsection if the notice would disclose matter 3
in relation to any communication described in § 9–111 of the Courts Article and: 4
(i) the communication was made to the minister, [clergyman] 5
MEMBER OF THE CLERGY, or priest in a professional character in the course of discipline 6
enjoined by the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION to which the minister, [clergyman] 7
MEMBER OF THE CLERGY, or priest belongs; and 8
(ii) the minister, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY, or priest 9
is bound to maintain the confidentiality of that communication under canon law, [church] 10
THE doctrine OF THE FAITH INSTITUTION, or practice. 11
Article – General Provisions 12
1–108.1. 13
“FAITH INSTITUTION” MEANS ANY CHRISTIAN, JEWISH, ISLAMIC, BUDDHIST, 14
OR HINDU CONGREGATION, OR ANY OTHER RELIGIO US SOCIETY, CONGREGATION, 15
OR DENOMINATION. 16
Article – Health – General 17
7–1003. 18
(i) (1) An individual shall be entitled to receive visits: 19
(i) From a lawyer that the individual chooses; 20
(ii) From a [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY that the 21
individual chooses; and 22
(iii) During reasonable visiting hours that the licensee sets, from any 23
other visitor. 24
(2) Each married individual in a licensed residential facility shall have 25
privacy during a visit by the spouse. 26
(3) If, for the welfare of the individual, visits are restricted, the restriction 27
shall be: 28
(i) Signed by the executive officer or administrative head of the 29
licensee; and 30
(ii) Made a permanent part of the individual’s record. 31
SENATE BILL 93 13
(4) Visits of an individual’s lawyer or [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE 1
CLERGY may not be restricted. 2
10–703. 3
(a) Each individual in a facility shall be entitled to converse privately with and 4
receive visits: 5
(1) At all reasonable hours, from a lawyer that the individual chooses; 6
(2) At all reasonable hours, from a [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY 7
that the individual chooses; and 8
(3) During reasonable visiting hours that the facility sets, from any other 9
visitor if the individual wishes to see the visitor. 10
(b) If an individual refuses to see a visitor, the refusal shall be made a permanent 11
part of the individual’s record. 12
(c) (1) If, for medically justified reasons, visits or private conversations are 13
restricted, the restriction and the reasons for the restriction shall be: 14
(i) Signed by a physician; 15
(ii) Dated as to when the restriction expires; 16
(iii) Made a permanent part of the individual’s record; and 17
(iv) Reviewed every 30 days if the restriction remains in effect. 18
(2) Visits of an individual’s lawyer or [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE 19
CLERGY may not be restricted during reasonable hours. 20
19–301. 21
(o) (2) “Related institution” does not include a nursing facility or visiting nurse 22
service that is conducted only by or for adherents of a bona fide [church] FAITH 23
INSTITUTION or religious organization, in accordance with tenets and practices that 24
include reliance on treatment by spiritual means alone for healing. 25
19–403. 26
This subtitle does not: 27
14 SENATE BILL 93
(3) Prohibit the care of an individual who relies on treatment in accordance 1
with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church or religious denomination ] FAITH 2
INSTITUTION and, with or without compensation, is cared for in accordance with those 3
tenets and practices. 4
19–4A–02. 5
This subtitle does not: 6
(2) Prohibit the care of an individual who relies on treatment in accordance 7
with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church or religious denomination ] FAITH 8
INSTITUTION and, with or without compensation, is provided care in accordance with those 9
tenets and practices. 10
Article – Health Occupations 11
1–401. 12
(a) (4) (ii) “Provider of health care” does not include any nursing institution 13
that is conducted by and for those who rely on treatment by spiritual means through prayer 14
alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church or religious 15
denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION. 16
9–307. 17
(a) In this section, “certified institution” means an institution that: 18
(1) Cares for and treats the sick in accordance with the teachings of any 19
recognized [church or religious denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION that teaches reliance 20
on spiritual means through prayer alone for healing; and 21
(2) Is certified by that [church or religious denomination ] FAITH 22
INSTITUTION to provide this care and treatment. 23
(c) An applicant qualifies for a limited license only if a recognized [church or 24
religious denomination ] FAITH INSTITUTION that teaches reliance on spiritual means 25
through prayer alone for healing approves the applicant as qualified to administer certified 26
institutions. 27
Article – Labor and Employment 28
8–208. 29
(b) Employment is not covered employment if the employment is performed for: 30
SENATE BILL 93 15
(1) a [church or an association or convention of churches ] FAITH 1
INSTITUTION OR AN ASSOCIATION OR CONVENTION OF FAITH INSTITUTIONS; or 2
(2) an organization that is: 3
(i) operated primarily for religious purposes; and 4
(ii) controlled, operated, principally supported, or supervised by a 5
[church or an association or convention of churches ] FAITH INSTITUTION OR AN 6
ASSOCIATION OR CONVENTION OF FAITH INSTITUTIONS. 7
(c) Employment is not covered employment if the employment is performed by: 8
(1) a commissioned, licensed, or ordained minister of a [church] FAITH 9
INSTITUTION in the exercise of the ministry; or 10
(2) a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties requ ired by the 11
order. 12
Article – Natural Resources 13
10–410. 14
(g) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a 15
person, other than the owner or occupant, while hunting for any wild bird or mammal may 16
not shoot or discharge any firearm or other deadly weapon within 150 yards, known as the 17
“safety zone ”, of a dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , or other 18
building or camp occupied by human beings, or shoot at any wild bird or mammal while it 19
is within this area, without the specific advance permission of the owner or occupant. 20
(3) (i) For archery hunters in Allegany County, Calvert County, Carroll 21
County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Harford County, Montgomery 22
County, St. Mary’s County, Washington County, Worcester County, or Wicomico County, 23
the safety zone describe d in paragraph (1) of this subsection extends for 50 yards from a 24
dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, or any other building or camp 25
occupied by human beings. 26
(ii) For archery hunters in Anne Arundel County, the safety zone 27
described in paragraph (1) of this subsection extends for 100 yards from a dwelling house, 28
residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, or any other building or camp occupied by human 29
beings. 30
(iii) In Howard County, for archery hunters who are hunting under 31
the authority of a deer management permit, or who are actively participating in a hunting 32
program administered by the county, the safety zone described in paragraph (1) of this 33
16 SENATE BILL 93
subsection extends for 50 yards from a dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF 1
WORSHIP, or any other building or camp occupied by humans. 2
(5) In Harford County, an archery hunter shall use a tree stand when 3
hunting any wild bird or mammal within 50 to 100 yards of a dwelling house, residence, 4
[church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , public or nonpubli c school, or other building or camp 5
occupied by human beings. 6
(6) (i) In Montgomery County or Washington County, an archery 7
hunter shall be in an elevated position that allows the hunter to shoot in a downward 8
trajectory when hunting any wild bird or ma mmal within 50 to 100 yards of a dwelling 9
house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , public or nonpublic school, or other 10
building or camp occupied by human beings. 11
(ii) In Howard County, for archery hunters who are hunting under 12
the authority of a deer management permit, or who are actively participating in a hunting 13
program administered by the county, shall be in an elevated position that allows the 14
hunters to shoot in a downward trajectory when hunting any wild bird or mammal within 15
50 to 150 yards of a dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , public or 16
nonpublic school, or other building or camp occupied by human beings. 17
Article – Public Safety 18
6–307. 19
(a) (1) The State Fire Marshal shall inspect for fire exits and reasonable safety 20
standards: 21
(ii) all schools, theaters, [churches] PLACES OF WORSHIP , and 22
other places of public assembly. 23
10–204. 24
(a) (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a mixing building 25
or storage building of a fireworks plant shall be located at least: 26
(i) 1,000 feet from a school, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP, hospital, 27
place of public assembly, or gasoline or fuel oil storage building or service station; and 28
14–1001. 29
(a) In this section, “structure” means: 30
(1) a [church, chapel,] PLACE OF WORSHIP or convent; 31
Article – Real Property 32
SENATE BILL 93 17
12–104. 1
(d) The damages to be awarded for the taking of a structure, such as a [church or 2
place of religious worship ] PLACE OF WORSHIP , held in fee simple, or under a lease 3
renewable forever, by or for the benefit of a religious body and regularly used by the 4
religious body, are the cost of reproducing or replacing the improvements, adjusted for 5
physical and functional depreciation, to w hich shall be added the fair market value of the 6
land. 7
Article – State Government 8
9–1010. 9
(a) The Archives: 10
(1) shall collect public and private records and other information that 11
relate to the history of the province and State of Maryland from the earliest times, including 12
[church] records OF FAITH INSTITUTIONS and newspapers; 13
Article – Tax – General 14
11–204. 15
(b) The sales and use tax does not apply to a sale by: 16
(1) a bona fide [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious organization, if 17
the sale is made for the general purposes of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or 18
organization; 19
(7) subject to subsection (e) of this section, a bona fide [church] FAITH 20
INSTITUTION, religious organization, or other nonprofit organization exempt from taxation 21
under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code if: 22
(i) the sale is made at an auction sale; and 23
(ii) the proceeds of the sale are used to carry on the exempt purposes 24
of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or organization; or 25
11–206. 26
(d) The sales and use tax does not apply to: 27
(1) a sale of food: 28
(ii) by a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious organization; 29
18 SENATE BILL 93
Article – Transportation 1
8–714. 2
(b) A permit is not required under this section to erect or maintain any outdoor 3
sign: 4
(3) That is used only to advertise: 5
(ii) A county [or church] fair held in this State OR A FAIR HELD IN 6
THIS STATE BY A FAITH INSTITUTION; 7
8–742. 8
This part does not prohibit the erection or maintenance of: 9
(1) Any on premise outdoor sign that complies with § 8–744 of this subtitle; 10
(2) Any outdoor sign used to identify a [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP or a 11
historical monument or location, if the sign is erected in accordance with the rules and 12
regulations of the Administration; or 13
(3) Any outdoor sign along a highway that is not an expressway, even if the 14
highway runs parallel or partially parallel to an expressway, if the sign faces that highway. 15
11–117. 16
(a) “Educational purposes” includes those activities of scho ols certified by the 17
Department of Education, activities of centers for individuals with an intellectual disability 18
and physically handicapped individuals, [church schools ] SCHOOLS OPERATED BY A 19
FAITH INSTITUTION , Sunday schools and [church] FAITH INSTITUT ION related 20
functions, child care centers, day camps, or summer camps, or any other activity that 21
provides some educational experience for its participants. 22
21–703. 23
(a) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, this section applies to: 24
(3) Every bus that is owned or operated by a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION 25
and carrying any passenger; 26
(g) (2) This section does not apply to school buses and [church] buses THAT 27
ARE OWNED OR OPERATED BY A FAITH INSTITUTION, as described in subsection (a)(2) 28
and (3) of this section, at locations within Baltimore City where complying with the 29
provision of this section would conflict with the existing traffic signal indications. 30
SENATE BILL 93 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2026. 2
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.