MD
Maryland House Bill HB2

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB2 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
OldNewDifferences
11
22
33 EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
44 [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
55 *hb0002*
66
77 HOUSE BILL 2
88 P1, P5 5lr1796
99 (PRE–FILED) CF SB 24
1010 By: Delegate Stewart
1111 Requested: August 13, 2024
1212 Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
1313 Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
1414
1515 A BILL ENTITLED
1616
1717 AN ACT concerning 1
1818
1919 Annotated Code – Terminology – Clergy and Churches, Faith Institutions, and 2
2020 Places of Worship 3
2121
2222 FOR the purpose of altering certain terminology throughout the Annotated Code that refers 4
2323 to a clergyman to refer to a member of the clergy and churches to refer to faith 5
2424 institutions and places of worship; and generally relating to clergy, churches, faith 6
2525 institutions, and places of worship. 7
2626
2727 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
2828 Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 9
2929 Section 16–405(b)(1)(iii) and 26–904(d)(2)(ix) 10
3030 Annotated Code of Maryland 11
3131 (2024 Replacement Volume) 12
3232
3333 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
3434 Article – Business Regulation 14
3535 Section 5–602(a)(2) and 17–1803(e)(1)(i) 15
3636 Annotated Code of Maryland 16
3737 (2024 Replacement Volume) 17
3838
3939 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
4040 Article – Commercial Law 19
4141 Section 13–104(1), 14–401(l)(3), and 23–101(e)(2)(vi) 20
4242 Annotated Code of Maryland 21
4343 (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 22
4444
4545 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 23
4646 Article – Corporations and Associations 24
4747 Section 5–301(b), 5–301.1, 5–302, 5–304(b), 5–305, 5–307(b) and (c), 5–310(a)(1), 25
4848 5–311, and 5–312(a) and (b)(1) 26 2 HOUSE BILL 2
4949
5050
5151 Annotated Code of Maryland 1
5252 (2014 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 2
5353
5454 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 3
5555 Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 4
5656 Section 3–2A–01(f)(2) and 9–111 5
5757 Annotated Code of Maryland 6
5858 (2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 7
5959
6060 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
6161 Article – Criminal Law 9
6262 Section 4–209(b)(1)(iii) 10
6363 Annotated Code of Maryland 11
6464 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
6565
6666 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
6767 Article – Economic Development 14
6868 Section 10–301(k) 15
6969 Annotated Code of Maryland 16
7070 (2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
7171
7272 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
7373 Article – Education 19
7474 Section 2–206(e)(4), 2–304(b)(1), 7–108(b)(1)(iv), 7–404(g), and 11–202.1(h)(2)(i) 20
7575 Annotated Code of Maryland 21
7676 (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 22
7777
7878 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 23
7979 Article – Environment 24
8080 Section 6–401(g)(2)(ix) 25
8181 Annotated Code of Maryland 26
8282 (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 27
8383
8484 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 28
8585 Article – Environment 29
8686 Section 14–108(4), 15–505(b)(2)(v), and 15–810(b)(4) 30
8787 Annotated Code of Maryland 31
8888 (2014 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 32
8989
9090 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 33
9191 Article – Family Law 34
9292 Section 2–403(a)(1) and 5–705(a)(3) 35
9393 Annotated Code of Maryland 36
9494 (2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 37
9595
9696 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 38
9797 Article – Health – General 39 HOUSE BILL 2 3
9898
9999
100100 Section 7–1003(i), 10–703, 19–301(o)(2), 19–403(3), and 19–4A–02(2) 1
101101 Annotated Code of Maryland 2
102102 (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 3
103103
104104 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 4
105105 Article – Health Occupations 5
106106 Section 1–401(a)(4)(ii) and 9–307(a) and (c) 6
107107 Annotated Code of Maryland 7
108108 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 8
109109
110110 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
111111 Article – Labor and Employment 10
112112 Section 8–208(b) and (c) 11
113113 Annotated Code of Maryland 12
114114 (2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
115115
116116 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
117117 Article – Natural Resources 15
118118 Section 10–410(g)(1), (3), (5), and (6) 16
119119 Annotated Code of Maryland 17
120120 (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
121121
122122 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19
123123 Article – Public Safety 20
124124 Section 6–307(a)(1)(ii), 10–204(a)(1)(i), and 14–1001(a)(1) 21
125125 Annotated Code of Maryland 22
126126 (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 23
127127
128128 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 24
129129 Article – Real Property 25
130130 Section 12–104(d) 26
131131 Annotated Code of Maryland 27
132132 (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 28
133133
134134 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 29
135135 Article – State Government 30
136136 Section 9–1010(a)(1) 31
137137 Annotated Code of Maryland 32
138138 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 33
139139
140140 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 34
141141 Article – Tax – General 35
142142 Section 11–204(b)(1) and (7) and 11–206(d)(1)(ii) 36
143143 Annotated Code of Maryland 37
144144 (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 38
145145
146146 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 39 4 HOUSE BILL 2
147147
148148
149149 Article – Transportation 1
150150 Section 8–714(b)(3)(ii), 8–742, 11–117(a), and 21–703(a)(3) and (g)(2) 2
151151 Annotated Code of Maryland 3
152152 (2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 4
153153
154154 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
155155 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 6
156156
157157 Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 7
158158
159159 16–405. 8
160160
161161 (b) (1) In this subsection, “protected building” means: 9
162162
163163 (iii) a [church or other] place of worship. 10
164164
165165 26–904. 11
166166
167167 (d) (2) A license holder that obtains an entertainment permit under § 26–1103 12
168168 of this title may allow an individual under 21 years of age to be present on the premises 13
169169 while an alcoholic beverage is being served during any of the following events: 14
170170
171171 (ix) [church] event HELD BY A FAITH INST ITUTION; 15
172172
173173 Article – Business Regulation 16
174174
175175 5–602. 17
176176
177177 (a) This subtitle does not apply to a cemetery that: 18
178178
179179 (2) is owned and operated by: 19
180180
181181 (i) a county; 20
182182
183183 (ii) a municipal corporation; 21
184184
185185 (iii) [a church; 22
186186
187187 (iv) a synagogue;] A FAITH INSTITUTION ; 23
188188
189189 [(v)] (IV) a religious organization; 24
190190
191191 [(vi)] (V) a nonprofit organization created before 1900 by an act of 25
192192 the General Assembly; 26
193193
194194 [(vii)] (VI) a family and does not conduct public sales; or 27 HOUSE BILL 2 5
195195
196196
197197
198198 [(viii)] (VII) a State veterans agency. 1
199199
200200 17–1803. 2
201201
202202 (e) (1) An exhibitor need not get a trader’s license for a show if the show is 3
203203 promoted by: 4
204204
205205 (i) a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION , as defined in § 5–301(b) of the 5
206206 Corporations and Associations Article; 6
207207
208208 Article – Commercial Law 7
209209
210210 13–104. 8
211211
212212 This title does not apply to: 9
213213
214214 (1) The professional services of a certified public accountant, architect, 10
215215 [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , professional engineer, lawyer, veterinarian, 11
216216 insurance company authorized to do business in the State, insurance producer licensed by 12
217217 the State, Christian Science practitioner, land surveyor, property line surveyor, 13
218218 chiropractor, optometrist, physical therapist, podiatrist, real estate broker, associate real 14
219219 estate broker, or real estate salesperson, or medical or dental practitioner; 15
220220
221221 14–401. 16
222222
223223 (l) (3) “Services” does not include the professional services of an accountant, 17
224224 architect, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , engineer, lawyer, or medical or dental 18
225225 practitioner. 19
226226
227227 23–101. 20
228228
229229 (e) (2) “Retirement community” does not include: 21
230230
231231 (vi) A retirement community that is owned by or affiliated with a 22
232232 [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious organization; 23
233233
234234 Article – Corporations and Associations 24
235235
236236 5–301. 25
237237
238238 (b) [“Church”] “FAITH INSTITUTION ” means any [church] FAITH 26
239239 INSTITUTION, religious society, or congregation of any sect, order, or denomination. 27
240240
241241 5–301.1. 28
242242 6 HOUSE BILL 2
243243
244244
245245 Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle or in any other provision of law, this 1
246246 part applies to every religious corporation formed in this State by any [church] FAITH 2
247247 INSTITUTION. 3
248248
249249 5–302. 4
250250
251251 (a) The adult members of a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION may form a religious 5
252252 corporation as provided in this part. 6
253253
254254 (b) The members shall: 7
255255
256256 (1) Elect at least four individuals to act as trustees in the name of and on 8
257257 behalf of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION ; and 9
258258
259259 (2) Prepare a plan of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION . 10
260260
261261 (c) The plan shall include: 11
262262
263263 (1) The purposes for which the religious corporation is formed; 12
264264
265265 (2) The name of the religious corporation and the [church] FAITH 13
266266 INSTITUTION; 14
267267
268268 (3) The time and manner for election and succession of trustees; and 15
269269
270270 (4) The exact qualifications of individuals eligible: 16
271271
272272 (i) To vote at elections; and 17
273273
274274 (ii) To be elected to office. 18
275275
276276 5–304. 19
277277
278278 (b) The articles of incorporation shall contain: 20
279279
280280 (1) The plan of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION ; 21
281281
282282 (2) The address of the principal place of worship of the [church] FAITH 22
283283 INSTITUTION; and 23
284284
285285 (3) The name and address of the resident agent of the [church] FAITH 24
286286 INSTITUTION. 25
287287
288288 5–305. 26
289289 HOUSE BILL 2 7
290290
291291
292292 If a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION forms a religious corporation, any assets held in 1
293293 trust for the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION by any person shall be conveyed immediately 2
294294 to the religious corporation. 3
295295
296296 5–307. 4
297297
298298 (b) Unless the plan provides otherwise, the trustees shall be elected and their 5
299299 successors continued at the time and place ordinarily used for public meetings of the 6
300300 [church] FAITH INSTITUTION , by the individuals who, according to the custom and usage 7
301301 of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION , have a voice in the management and direction of 8
302302 congregational or temporal affairs. 9
303303
304304 (c) Unless the plan permits otherwise, the minister of the [church] FAITH 10
305305 INSTITUTION or, if there is more than one minister, the senior minister shall be a trustee 11
306306 of the religious corporation, in addition to the trustees required by § 5–302(b)(1) of this 12
307307 subtitle. 13
308308
309309 5–310. 14
310310
311311 (a) If any contest arises over the voting rights or the fair conduct of an election: 15
312312
313313 (1) Each contending party shall appoint one individual from among the 16
314314 members of a neighboring [church] FAITH INSTITUTION of the same religious persuasion 17
315315 or, if there is no such [church] FAITH INSTITUTION , from among the members of any other 18
316316 [church] FAITH INSTITUTION ; and 19
317317
318318 5–311. 20
319319
320320 (a) Members of a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION may separate from the [church] 21
321321 FAITH INSTITUTION , form a house of worship, and employ a minister if: 22
322322
323323 (1) They are of sufficient number to form a house of worship and maintain 23
324324 a minister; and 24
325325
326326 (2) All debts and contracts incurred by them as members of the original 25
327327 [church] FAITH INSTITUTION are discharged. 26
328328
329329 (b) When incorporated, the new [church] FAITH INSTITUTION is entitled to the 27
330330 benefits of this subtitle relating to religious corporations. 28
331331
332332 5–312. 29
333333
334334 (a) If any [church] FAITH INSTITUTION organized since 1800 as a religious 30
335335 corporation under any law of the State did not file its plan or articles of incorporation for 31
336336 record in the proper office within the time required by law, but subsequently files its plan 32
337337 or articles of incorporation in the proper office: 33 8 HOUSE BILL 2
338338
339339
340340
341341 (1) The [church] FAITH INSTITUTION is a lawful religious corporation; 1
342342
343343 (2) The date of incorporation is the date of the plan or articles of 2
344344 incorporation; and 3
345345
346346 (3) If otherwise lawful, every action of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION 4
347347 from the date of incorporation is valid. 5
348348
349349 (b) There is a conclusive presumption in every court of the State that a plan or 6
350350 articles of incorporation of a religious corporation were properly filed for record in the 7
351351 appropriate office and that these records were lost or destroyed, if: 8
352352
353353 (1) It appears from the record book of the religious corporation or from any 9
354354 other source that the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION adopted a valid plan or articles of 10
355355 incorporation; and 11
356356
357357
358358 Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 12
359359
360360 3–2A–01. 13
361361
362362 (f) (2) “Health care provider” does not include any nursing institution 14
363363 conducted by and for those who rely upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer 15
364364 alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church or religious 16
365365 denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION . 17
366366
367367 9–111. 18
368368
369369 A minister of the gospel, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , or priest of an 19
370370 established [church of any denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION may not be compelled to 20
371371 testify on any matter in relation to any confession or communication made to him in 21
372372 confidence by a person seeking his spiritual advice or consolation. 22
373373
374374 Article – Criminal Law 23
375375
376376 4–209. 24
377377
378378 (b) (1) A county, municipal corporation, or special taxing district may regulate 25
379379 the purchase, sale, transfer, ownership, possession, and transportation of the items listed 26
380380 in subsection (a) of this section: 27
381381
382382 (iii) except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, within 100 28
383383 yards of or in a park, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , school, public building, and other place 29
384384 of public assembly. 30
385385 HOUSE BILL 2 9
386386
387387
388388 Article – Economic Development 1
389389
390390 10–301. 2
391391
392392 (k) “Noncollegiate educational institution” means a noncollegiate educational 3
393393 institution as defined in § 2–206 of the Education Article that: 4
394394
395395 (1) has received a certificate of approval from the State Board of Education; 5
396396 or 6
397397
398398 (2) is an institution operated by a bona fide [church organization] FAITH 7
399399 INSTITUTION. 8
400400
401401 Article – Education 9
402402
403403 2–206. 10
404404
405405 (e) (4) This subsection does not apply to [an] A NONCOLLEGIATE 11
406406 EDUCATIONAL institution operated by a bona fide [church organization] FAITH 12
407407 INSTITUTION, including the Amish and Mennonite church parochial schools. However, 13
408408 [an] A NONCOLLEGIATE EDUC ATIONAL institution that does not have a certificate of 14
409409 approval from the State Board may not r eceive State funds, except that [an] A 15
410410 NONCOLLEGIATE EDUCAT IONAL institution operated by a bona fide [church 16
411411 organization] FAITH INSTITUTION is not required to have a certificate to receive State 17
412412 funds for eligible students in the food service program who are enrolled in nursery school 18
413413 through the eighth grade. 19
414414
415415 2–304. 20
416416
417417 (b) (1) Before a private noncollegiate educational institution that operates in 21
418418 this State ends operations, including those operated by bona fide [church organizations] 22
419419 FAITH INSTITUTIONS , the chief administrative officer of the PRIVATE NONCOLLEGIAT E 23
420420 EDUCATIONAL institution shall file with the State Superintendent the original or a legible 24
421421 copy of all essential records of the academic achievements of each former student of the 25
422422 PRIVATE NONCOLLEGIAT E EDUCATIONAL institution who received instruction in any 26
423423 combination of grades 9 through 12 or their equivalents. 27
424424
425425 7–108. 28
426426
427427 (b) (1) If written application is made to the county superintendent, the county 29
428428 board shall provide for the use of a public school facility for: 30
429429
430430 (iv) Other civic, educational, social, or recreational purposes or 31
431431 [church] FAITH INSTITUTION affiliated civic purposes. 32
432432
433433 7–404. 33 10 HOUSE BILL 2
434434
435435
436436
437437 (g) A student whose parent or guardian objects in writing to hearing and vision 1
438438 screening on the ground that it conflicts with the tenets and practice of a recognized [church 2
439439 or religious denomination] FAITH INSTITUTIO N of which he is an adherent or member may 3
440440 not be required to take these screenings. 4
441441
442442 11–202.1. 5
443443
444444 (h) With regard to a religious educational institution authorized to operate 6
445445 without a certificate of approval under subsection (b) of this section, a person may not: 7
446446
447447 (2) Enroll a student in the institution unless, before enrollment, the person 8
448448 gives written notice to and obtains a written acknowledgment from the student that: 9
449449
450450 (i) The institution’s instructional program is only designed for and 10
451451 aimed at persons who hold or seek to learn the particular religious faith or beliefs of the 11
452452 [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious institution, and provides only educational 12
453453 programs for religious vocations or purposes; 13
454454
455455 Article – Environment 14
456456
457457 6–401. 15
458458
459459 (g) (2) “Public and commercial building” includes: 16
460460
461461 (ix) [Churches] PLACES OF WORSHIP ; 17
462462
463463 14–108. 18
464464
465465 The Department shall deny the permit if the Department determines that: 19
466466
467467 (4) The operation will constitute a significant physical hazard to a 20
468468 neighboring dwelling unit, school, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , hospital, commercial or 21
469469 industrial building, public road, or other public or private property in existence at the time 22
470470 of the application for the permit; 23
471471
472472 15–505. 24
473473
474474 (b) (2) Subject to valid existing rights, as that term is used in the federal 25
475475 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, the Department may not issue, 26
476476 extend or renew any permit: 27
477477
478478 (v) Within 300 feet of any public building, school, public park, 28
479479 [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , community or institutional building; or 29
480480
481481 15–810. 30 HOUSE BILL 2 11
482482
483483
484484
485485 (b) The Department may deny the permit on finding that: 1
486486
487487 (4) The operation will constitute a substantial physical hazard to a 2
488488 neighboring dwelling house, school, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , hospital, commercial 3
489489 or industrial building, public road, or other public or private property in existence at the 4
490490 time of application for the permit; 5
491491
492492 Article – Family Law 6
493493
494494 2–403. 7
495495
496496 (a) (1) A license shall read substantially as follows: 8
497497
498498 “State of Maryland and County of ........... To any individual authorized by the laws 9
499499 of this State to perform a marriage ceremony. You are hereby authorized to join together 10
500500 in matrimony according to the rules and ceremonies of your [church] FAITH INSTITUTION , 11
501501 society or religious sect and the laws of this State, or according to the laws of this State, 12
502502 the following individuals: 13
503503
504504 ……………………………………………… 14
505505 (state here name of intended party one) 15
506506 ……………………………………………… 16
507507 (state here name of intended party two) 17
508508 Given under my hand and seal of the Circuit Court for ………, this ……… day of 18
509509 …………… (state here month and year).” 19
510510
511511 5–705. 20
512512
513513 (a) (3) A minister of the gospel, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , or 21
514514 priest of an established [church of any denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION is not required 22
515515 to provide notice under paragraph (1) of this subsection if the notice would disclose matter 23
516516 in relation to any communication described in § 9–111 of the Courts Article and: 24
517517
518518 (i) the communication was made to the minister, [clergyman] 25
519519 MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , or priest in a professional character in the course of discipline 26
520520 enjoined by the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION to which the minister, [clergyman] 27
521521 MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , or priest belongs; and 28
522522
523523 (ii) the minister, [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY , or priest 29
524524 is bound to maintain the confidentiality of that communication under canon law, [church] 30
525525 THE doctrine OF THE FAITH INSTITU TION, or practice. 31
526526
527527 Article – Health – General 32
528528
529529 7–1003. 33 12 HOUSE BILL 2
530530
531531
532532
533533 (i) (1) An individual shall be entitled to receive visits: 1
534534
535535 (i) From a lawyer that the individual chooses; 2
536536
537537 (ii) From a [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY that the 3
538538 individual chooses; and 4
539539
540540 (iii) During reasonable visiting hours that the licensee sets, from any 5
541541 other visitor. 6
542542
543543 (2) Each married individual in a licensed residential facility shall have 7
544544 privacy during a visit by the spouse. 8
545545
546546 (3) If, for the welfare of the individual, visits are restricted, the restriction 9
547547 shall be: 10
548548
549549 (i) Signed by the executive officer or administrative head of the 11
550550 licensee; and 12
551551
552552 (ii) Made a permanent part of the individual’s record. 13
553553
554554 (4) Visits of an individual’s lawyer or [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE 14
555555 CLERGY may not be restricted. 15
556556
557557 10–703. 16
558558
559559 (a) Each individual in a facility shall be entitled to converse privately with and 17
560560 receive visits: 18
561561
562562 (1) At all reasonable hours, from a lawyer that the individual chooses; 19
563563
564564 (2) At all reasonable hours, from a [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE CLERGY 20
565565 that the individual chooses; and 21
566566
567567 (3) During reasonable visiting hours that the facility sets, from any other 22
568568 visitor if the individual wishes to see the visitor. 23
569569
570570 (b) If an individual refuses to see a visitor, the refusal shall be made a permanent 24
571571 part of the individual’s record. 25
572572
573573 (c) (1) If, for medically justified reasons, visits or private conversations are 26
574574 restricted, the restriction and the reasons for the restriction shall be: 27
575575
576576 (i) Signed by a physician; 28
577577
578578 (ii) Dated as to when the restriction expires; 29 HOUSE BILL 2 13
579579
580580
581581
582582 (iii) Made a permanent part of the individual’s record; and 1
583583
584584 (iv) Reviewed every 30 days if the restriction remains in effect. 2
585585
586586 (2) Visits of an individual’s lawyer or [clergyman] MEMBER OF THE 3
587587 CLERGY may not be restricted during reasonable hours. 4
588588
589589 19–301. 5
590590
591591 (o) (2) “Related institution” does not include a nursing facility or visiting nurse 6
592592 service that is conducted only by or for adherents of a bona fide [church] FAITH 7
593593 INSTITUTION or religious organization, in accordance with tenets and practices that 8
594594 include reliance on treatment by spiritual means alone for healing. 9
595595
596596 19–403. 10
597597
598598 This subtitle does not: 11
599599
600600 (3) Prohibit the care of an individual who relies on treatment in accordance 12
601601 with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church or religious denomination] FAITH 13
602602 INSTITUTION and, with or without compensation, is cared for in accordance with those 14
603603 tenets and practices. 15
604604
605605 19–4A–02. 16
606606
607607 This subtitle does not: 17
608608
609609 (2) Prohibit the care of an individual who relies on treatment in accordance 18
610610 with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church or religious denomination] FAITH 19
611611 INSTITUTION and, with or without compensation, is provided care in accordance with those 20
612612 tenets and practices. 21
613613
614614 Article – Health Occupations 22
615615
616616 1–401. 23
617617
618618 (a) (4) (ii) “Provider of health care” does not include any nursing institution 24
619619 that is conducted by and for those who rely on treatment by spiritual means through prayer 25
620620 alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized [church or religious 26
621621 denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION . 27
622622
623623 9–307. 28
624624
625625 (a) In this section, “certified institution” means an institution that: 29
626626 14 HOUSE BILL 2
627627
628628
629629 (1) Cares for and treats the sick in accordance with the teachings of any 1
630630 recognized [church or religious denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION that teaches reliance 2
631631 on spiritual means through prayer alone for healing; and 3
632632
633633 (2) Is certified by that [church or religious denomination] FAITH 4
634634 INSTITUTION to provide this care and treatment. 5
635635
636636 (c) An applicant qualifies for a limited license only if a recognized [church or 6
637637 religious denomination] FAITH INSTITUTION that teaches reliance on spiritual means 7
638638 through prayer alone for healing approves the applicant as qualified to administer certified 8
639639 institutions. 9
640640
641641 Article – Labor and Employment 10
642642
643643 8–208. 11
644644
645645 (b) Employment is not covered employment if the employment is performed for: 12
646646
647647 (1) a [church or an association or convention of churches] FAITH 13
648648 INSTITUTION OR AN AS SOCIATION OR CONVENT ION OF FAITH INSTI TUTIONS; or 14
649649
650650 (2) an organization that is: 15
651651
652652 (i) operated primarily for religious purposes; and 16
653653
654654 (ii) controlled, operated, principally supported, or supervised by a 17
655655 [church or an association or convention of churches] FAITH INSTITUTION OR AN 18
656656 ASSOCIATION OR CONVENTION O F FAITH INSTITUTIONS . 19
657657
658658 (c) Employment is not covered employment if the employment is performed by: 20
659659
660660 (1) a commissioned, licensed, or ordained minister of a [church] FAITH 21
661661 INSTITUTION in the exercise of the ministry; or 22
662662
663663 (2) a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties required by the 23
664664 order. 24
665665
666666 Article – Natural Resources 25
667667
668668 10–410. 26
669669
670670 (g) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a 27
671671 person, other than the owner or occupant, while hunting for any wild bird or mammal may 28
672672 not shoot or discharge any firearm or other deadly weapon within 150 yards, known as the 29
673673 “safety zone”, of a dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , or other 30 HOUSE BILL 2 15
674674
675675
676676 building or camp occupied by human beings, or shoot at any wild bird or mammal while it 1
677677 is within this area, without the specific advance permission of the owner or occupant. 2
678678
679679 (3) (i) For archery hunters in Allegany County, Calvert County, Carroll 3
680680 County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Harford County, Montgomery 4
681681 County, St. Mary’s County, Washington County, Worcester County, or Wicomico County, 5
682682 the safety zone described in paragraph (1) of this subsection extends for 50 yards from a 6
683683 dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , or any other building or camp 7
684684 occupied by human beings. 8
685685
686686 (ii) For archery hunters in Anne Arundel County, the safety zone 9
687687 described in paragraph (1) of this subsection extends for 100 yards from a dwelling house, 10
688688 residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , or any other building or camp occupied by human 11
689689 beings. 12
690690
691691 (iii) In Howard County, for archery hunters who are hunting under 13
692692 the authority of a deer management permit, or who are actively participating in a hunting 14
693693 program administered by the county, the safety zone described in paragraph (1) of this 15
694694 subsection extends for 50 yards from a dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF 16
695695 WORSHIP, or any other building or camp occupied by humans. 17
696696
697697 (5) In Harford County, an archery hunter shall use a tree stand when 18
698698 hunting any wild bird or mammal within 50 to 100 yards of a dwelling house, residence, 19
699699 [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , public or nonpublic school, or other building or camp 20
700700 occupied by human beings. 21
701701
702702 (6) (i) In Montgomery County or Washington County, an archery 22
703703 hunter shall be in an elevated position that allows the hunter to shoot in a downward 23
704704 trajectory when hunting any wild bird or mammal within 50 to 100 yards of a dwelling 24
705705 house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , public or nonpublic school, or other 25
706706 building or camp occupied by human beings. 26
707707
708708 (ii) In Howard County, for archery hunters who are hunting under 27
709709 the authority of a deer management permit, or who are actively participating in a hunting 28
710710 program administered by the county, shall be in an elevated position that allows the 29
711711 hunters to shoot in a downward trajectory when hunting any wild bird or mammal within 30
712712 50 to 150 yards of a dwelling house, residence, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , public or 31
713713 nonpublic school, or other building or camp occupied by human beings. 32
714714
715715 Article – Public Safety 33
716716
717717 6–307. 34
718718
719719 (a) (1) The State Fire Marshal shall inspect for fire exits and reasonable safety 35
720720 standards: 36
721721 16 HOUSE BILL 2
722722
723723
724724 (ii) all schools, theaters, [churches] PLACES OF WORSHIP , and 1
725725 other places of public assembly. 2
726726
727727 10–204. 3
728728
729729 (a) (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a mixing building 4
730730 or storage building of a fireworks plant shall be located at least: 5
731731
732732 (i) 1,000 feet from a school, [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP , hospital, 6
733733 place of public assembly, or gasoline or fuel oil storage building or service station; and 7
734734
735735 14–1001. 8
736736
737737 (a) In this section, “structure” means: 9
738738
739739 (1) a [church, chapel,] PLACE OF WORSHIP or convent; 10
740740
741741 Article – Real Property 11
742742
743743 12–104. 12
744744
745745 (d) The damages to be awarded for the taking of a structure, such as a [church or 13
746746 place of religious worship] PLACE OF WORSHIP , held in fee simple, or under a lease 14
747747 renewable forever, by or for the benefit of a religious body and regularly used by the 15
748748 religious body, are the cost of reproducing or replacing the improvements, adjusted for 16
749749 physical and functional depreciation, to which shall be added the fair market value of the 17
750750 land. 18
751751
752752 Article – State Government 19
753753
754754 9–1010. 20
755755
756756 (a) The Archives: 21
757757
758758 (1) shall collect public and private records and other information that 22
759759 relate to the history of the province and State of Maryland from the earliest times, including 23
760760 [church] records OF FAITH INSTITUTION S and newspapers; 24
761761
762762 Article – Tax – General 25
763763
764764 11–204. 26
765765
766766 (b) The sales and use tax does not apply to a sale by: 27
767767 HOUSE BILL 2 17
768768
769769
770770 (1) a bona fide [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious organization, if 1
771771 the sale is made for the general purposes of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or 2
772772 organization; 3
773773
774774 (7) subject to subsection (e) of this section, a bona fide [church] FAITH 4
775775 INSTITUTION, religious organization, or other nonprofit organization exempt from taxation 5
776776 under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code if: 6
777777
778778 (i) the sale is made at an auction sale; and 7
779779
780780 (ii) the proceeds of the sale are used to carry on the exempt purposes 8
781781 of the [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or organization; or 9
782782
783783 11–206. 10
784784
785785 (d) The sales and use tax does not apply to: 11
786786
787787 (1) a sale of food: 12
788788
789789 (ii) by a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION or religious organization; 13
790790
791791 Article – Transportation 14
792792
793793 8–714. 15
794794
795795 (b) A permit is not required under this section to erect or maintain any outdoor 16
796796 sign: 17
797797
798798 (3) That is used only to advertise: 18
799799
800800 (ii) A county [or church] fair held in this State OR A FAIR HELD IN 19
801801 THIS STATE BY A FAITH INSTITUTION; 20
802802
803803 8–742. 21
804804
805805 This part does not prohibit the erection or maintenance of: 22
806806
807807 (1) Any on premise outdoor sign that complies with § 8–744 of this subtitle; 23
808808
809809 (2) Any outdoor sign used to identify a [church] PLACE OF WORSHIP or a 24
810810 historical monument or location, if the sign is erected in accordance with the rules and 25
811811 regulations of the Administration; or 26
812812
813813 (3) Any outdoor sign along a highway that is not an expressway, even if the 27
814814 highway runs parallel or partially parallel to an expressway, if the sign faces that highway. 28
815815 18 HOUSE BILL 2
816816
817817
818818 11–117. 1
819819
820820 (a) “Educational purposes” includes those activities of schools certified by the 2
821821 Department of Education, activities of centers for individuals with an intellectual disability 3
822822 and physically handicapped individuals, [church schools] SCHOOLS OPERATED BY A 4
823823 FAITH INSTITUTION , Sunday schools and [church] FAITH INSTITUTION related 5
824824 functions, child care centers, day camps, or summer camps, or any other activity that 6
825825 provides some educational experience for its participants. 7
826826
827827 21–703. 8
828828
829829 (a) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, this section applies to: 9
830830
831831 (3) Every bus that is owned or operated by a [church] FAITH INSTITUTION 10
832832 and carrying any passenger; 11
833833
834834 (g) (2) This section does not apply to school buses and [church] buses THAT 12
835835 ARE OWNED OR OPERATE D BY A FAITH INSTITU TION, as described in subsection (a)(2) 13
836836 and (3) of this section, at locations within Baltimore City where complying with the 14
837837 provision of this section would conflict with the existing traffic signal indications. 15
838838
839839 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 16
840840 October 1, 2025. 17
841841