HB 750 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Criminal Law - Obstruction or Interference With Exercise of Religious Beliefs - Prohibition

HB 750 prohibits anyone from physically blocking another person from entering or leaving a religious facility, such as a church, mosque, synagogue, cemetery, or religious school. It specifically bans detaining, obstructing, or hindering someone’s path to or from these locations. Violating this law would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine. The bill includes exemptions for facility staff, law enforcement, and religious authorities acting in good faith, and explicitly does not restrict protected speech.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Criminal Law - Interference With Access to or Egress From a Religious Facility - Prohibition → Third - Criminal Law - Obstruction or Interference With Exercise of Religious Beliefs - Prohibition · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to broaden its scope from protecting only physical access to religious facilities to also protecting the actual exercise of religious beliefs. The title was updated to reflect this broader protection, and new language was added to prohibit interfering with or injuring someone while they are lawfully exercising their religion. Additionally, the bill was expanded to include new sponsors and received a favorable committee report with amendments.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely prohibiting obstruction of entry or exit at religious facilities to also prohibiting interference with the exercise of religious beliefs within those facilities.

SCOPE

The bill title and purpose were updated to include 'Obstruction or Interference With Exercise of Religious Beliefs,' expanding protection beyond just physical access.

REQUIREMENT

New provisions prohibit using force, threats, or physical obstruction to interfere with or injure someone while they are lawfully exercising religious beliefs at a place of worship.

ELIGIBILITY

Additional sponsors (Simmons, Conaway, and Williams) were added to the bill's authorship list.

TECHNICAL

The bill status was updated to show it was adopted by the House and received a favorable committee report with amendments.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 424

executive

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

lower

Mar 3, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (133-0-9)

house of delegates

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors