EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0926*
HOUSE BILL 926
E4 4lr2164
CF SB 1033
By: Delegate Griffith
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 26, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Building Performance Standards – Local Requests for Guidance – 2
Religious Considerations 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Labor, on request of a local 4
jurisdiction and in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, to provide 5
guidance for the implementation and enforcement of the Maryland Building 6
Performance Standards in relation to any religious observance, practice, or belief; 7
and generally relating to the Maryland Building Performance Standards. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Public Safety 10
Section 12–507 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Public Safety 16
12–507. 17
(a) The Department may: 18
2 HOUSE BILL 926
(1) develop a voluntary forum that may be used, on request of a local 1
jurisdiction, to resolve conflicts that involve the Standards; and 2
(2) adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle. 3
(b) The Department: 4
(1) shall notify each local jurisdiction of each change to the International 5
Building Code and the impact the change will have on the local amendments in that local 6
jurisdiction; 7
(2) in conjunction with the Maryland Building Officials Association and 8
other interested organizations, shall provide training for local building officials on the 9
Standards and certify the participation of local building officials in the training; [and] 10
(3) on request, shall provide a local jurisdiction with technical assistance 11
to implement and enforce the Standards; AND 12
(4) ON REQUEST BY A LOCA L JURISDICTION AND IN CONSULTATION 13
WITH THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SHALL PROVIDE GUIDAN CE FOR 14
THE IMPLEMENTATION A ND ENFORCEMENT OF TH E STANDARDS IN RELATION TO 15
ANY RELIGIOUS OBSERV ANCE, PRACTICE, OR BELIEF. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
October 1, 2024. 18
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.