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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland prohibits interference with religious worship and access to religious facilities
Last action · May 12, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 425Sponsor: Chris West
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What This Bill Does
Maryland enacts a law prohibiting individuals from using force, threats, or physical obstruction to interfere with people exercising their religious beliefs or entering and exiting religious facilities, effective October 1, 2026. Violating the prohibition is classified as a punishable by up to 90 days in imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
The law establishes criminal penalties for blocking access to places of worship or physically interfering with religious observances, altering legal liabilities for protesters or agitators near religious properties.
- The legislation extends statutory protections previously established for medical facilities under Maryland law to religious properties and places of worship. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
religious entities and attendees
Individuals and groups using religious facilities gain statutory protections against physical obstruction and interference during worship.
law enforcement officers
Law enforcement personnel are explicitly exempted from the access restrictions while performing their duties.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What actions are prohibited at religious facilities under this law?
Who is exempt from the restrictions on religious facility access?
What are the penalties for violating this law?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
16 actions- May 12, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 425
- Apr 6, 2026SenateFloorReturned Passed
- Apr 3, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (119-0)
- Apr 2, 2026HouseFloorFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- Apr 2, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable Report by Judiciary
- Mar 9, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Judiciary
Show 10 earlier actions
- Mar 6, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (44-0)
- Mar 4, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 4, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments Adopted
- Mar 3, 2026SenateFloorMotion Special Order until 3/4 (Senator Kagan) Adopted
- Mar 3, 2026SenateCommittee Amendment Adopted
- Mar 3, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 413927/1
- Mar 2, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Judicial Proceedings
- Jan 13, 2026SenateHearing 1/20 at 1:00 p.m.
- Oct 21, 2025SenateIntroducedPre-filed
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Physical Access Protections
The legislation mirrors existing statutory protections for medical facilities and applies them directly to religious facilities and places of worship.
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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