EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0899*
HOUSE BILL 899
P1 5lr1890
By: Delegates Wolek and Solomon
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
General Provisions – Commemorative Months – Muslim American Heritage and 2
Jewish American Heritage Months 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Governor annually to proclaim certain months as Muslim 4
American Heritage and Jewish American Heritage months; requiring the 5
proclamations to urge certain organizations to observe the months with certain 6
programs and activities; and generally relating to Muslim American Heritage and 7
Jewish American Heritage months. 8
BY renumbering 9
Article – General Provisions 10
Section 7–501 through 7–503 and 7–504 through 7–507 11
to be Section 7–502 through 7–504 and 7–506 through 7–509, respectively 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 14
BY adding to 15
Article – General Provisions 16
Section 7–501 and 7–505 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 19
Preamble 20
WHEREAS, There are over 350,000 Muslim Marylanders who currently reside in 21
the State and, for generations, have contributed to enriching the artistic, business, 22
academic, and public service communities thereby significantly increasing the vibrancy of 23
Maryland; and 24
WHEREAS, There are over 250,000 Jewish Marylanders who currently reside in the 25
State and, for generations, have contributed to enriching the artistic, business, academic, 26 2 HOUSE BILL 899
and public service communities thereby significantly increasing the vibrancy of Maryland; 1
now, therefore, 2
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
That Section(s) 7–501 through 7–503 and 7–504 through 7–507 of Article – General 4
Provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 7–502 5
through 7–504 and 7–506 through 7–509, respectively. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 7
as follows: 8
Article – General Provisions 9
7–501. 10
(A) THE GOVERNOR ANNUALLY SHA LL PROCLAIM THE MONT H OF JANUARY 11
AS MUSLIM AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN RECOGNITION OF THE 12
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MUSLIM AMERICANS HAVE MADE T O THE STATE. 13
(B) THE PROCLAMATION SHALL UR GE EDUCATIONAL AND CULT URAL 14
ORGANIZATIONS TO OBS ERVE MUSLIM AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PROPERLY 15
WITH APPROPRIATE PRO GRAMS, CEREMONIES , AND ACTIVITIES. 16
7–505. 17
(A) THE GOVERNOR ANNUALLY SHA LL PROCLAIM THE MONT H OF MAY AS 18
JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS 19
THAT JEWISH AMERICANS HAVE MADE T O THE STATE. 20
(B) THE PROCLAMATION SHAL L URGE EDUCATIONAL A ND CULTURAL 21
ORGANIZATIONS TO OBS ERVE JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PROPERLY 22
WITH APPROPRIATE PRO GRAMS, CEREMONIES , AND ACTIVITIES. 23
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 24
October 1, 2025. 25