Annotated Code - Terminology - Clergy and Churches, Faith Institutions, and Places of Worship
SB 24 updates terminology in Maryland's laws to use more inclusive language. It changes references from "clergyman" to "member of the clergy" and "churches" to "faith institutions and places of worship" across multiple state code sections. The bill affects all existing laws that currently use these outdated terms, including those related to alcohol regulations, business licensing, education, health, and property. This is a purely linguistic update with no new policy requirements or impacts.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Aug 13, 2024
Last action Mar 20, 2025
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What changed between versions
First - Annotated Code - Terminology - Clergy and Churches, Faith Institutions, and Places of Worship
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Third - Annotated Code - Terminology - Clergy and Churches, Faith Institutions, and Places of Worship
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3 edits
MINOR
This bill underwent significant reorganization of its scope, shifting focus from primarily addressing faith institutions and places of worship to covering a broader range of legal articles including corporations, courts, criminal law, and various other state codes. The changes appear to be technical and formatting-related, with the bill being renumbered and restructured rather than containing substantive new policy provisions.
Scope change
The bill's scope was substantially reorganized, moving from specific provisions about faith institutions and places of worship to a broader array of state articles including corporations, courts, criminal law, and other legal areas.
SCOPE
The bill was restructured to address multiple state articles (Corporations, Courts, Criminal Law, Economic Development, Education, Environment, Family Law, Health, Labor, Natural Resources, Public Safety, Real Property, State Government, Tax, and Transportation) rather than focusing primarily on faith institutions.
TECHNICAL
Technical formatting changes were made, including updating bill references, committee reports, and action dates, along with renumbering sections throughout the document.
DEFINITION
Definitions related to 'protected building' and exemptions for faith institutions were modified, with some bracketed text removed and others retained in different sections of the code.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2025
How they voted
44–1
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 46
Feb 13, 2025
D
Democratic33
96% Yea
R
Republican13
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
13
Key actions
6
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred Rules and Executive Nominations
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
Floor Amendment {
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment {
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Motion Special Order until 2/25 (Senator West) Adopted
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (44-1-1)
senate
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Aug 13, 2024
Introduced
Pre-filed
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Cheryl Kagan
DDemocratic
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