DISSINTER

SB 177 — Maryland

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

Prohibiting a person from using force, threat of force, or physical obstruction to interfere with or physically injure another while the other is lawfully exercising or attempting to lawfully exercise religious beliefs at a place of religious worship; and establishing that a violation of the Act is a misdemeanor with a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both on conviction.

Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 425 · May 12, 2026

EnactedCemeteriesCivil Rights and Social EquityCrimes and PunishmentsCriminal Law - Substantive CrimesInjuryLaw EnforcementPenalties and SentencesPlaces of WorshipPrivate SchoolsThreatsViolence

Synopsis written by the legislature's own staff, as published on the official bill page. Status label is derived from the recorded actions. The full text below is the record.

Committees: Judicial Proceedings (Senate); Judiciary (House of Delegates)

Cross-filed with HB 750 — the companion bill in the other chamber, as the legislature links it. Each bill keeps its own votes and status; they are never combined here.

Updated May 19, 2026

Timeline

  1. Pre-filed

    Oct 21, 2025 · Senate

  2. First Reading Judicial Proceedings

    Jan 14, 2026 · Senate

  3. Hearing 1/20 at 1:00 p.m.

    Jan 13, 2026 · Senate

  4. Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

    Mar 2, 2026 · Senate

  5. Favorable with Amendments {

    Mar 3, 2026 · Senate

  6. Committee Amendment Adopted

    Mar 3, 2026 · Senate

  7. Motion Special Order until 3/4 (Senator Kagan) Adopted

    Mar 3, 2026 · Senate

  8. Favorable with Amendments Adopted

    Mar 4, 2026 · Senate

  9. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    Mar 4, 2026 · Senate

  10. Third Reading Passed

    Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

  11. Referred Judiciary

    Mar 9, 2026 · House of Delegates

  12. Favorable Report by Judiciary

    Apr 2, 2026 · House of Delegates

  13. Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

    Apr 2, 2026 · House of Delegates

  14. Third Reading Passed

    Apr 3, 2026 · House of Delegates

  15. Returned Passed

    Apr 6, 2026 · Senate

  16. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 425

    May 12, 2026 · executive

Sponsored by Chris West

Senate vote — 44–0

On Third Reading · Feb 23, 2026 · result: pass

44 yea · 0 nay · 3 absent, excused, abstain or not voting

Arthur EllisDistrict 28YeaSteve HersheyDistrict 36YeaKaren YoungDistrict 3YeaBryan SimonaireDistrict 31YeaDalya AttarDistrict 41YeaBrian FeldmanDistrict 15YeaKatie HesterDistrict 9YeaSara LoveDistrict 16YeaWill SmithDistrict 20YeaMalcolm AugustineDistrict 47YeaBill FoldenDistrict 4YeaShelly HettlemanDistrict 11YeaJohnny MautzDistrict 37YeaCharles SydnorDistrict 44YeaJack BaileyDistrict 29YeaJason GallionDistrict 35YeaCarl JacksonDistrict 8YeaCory McCrayDistrict 45YeaJeff WaldstreicherDistrict 18YeaPam BeidleDistrict 32YeaDawn GileDistrict 33YeaMary-Dulany JamesDistrict 34YeaMike McKayDistrict 1YeaAlonzo WashingtonDistrict 22YeaBen BrooksDistrict 10YeaGuy GuzzoneDistrict 13YeaCheryl KaganDistrict 17YeaAnthony MuseDistrict 26YeaRon WatsonDistrict 23YeaMary Beth CarozzaDistrict 38YeaKevin HarrisDistrict 27YeaNancy KingDistrict 39YeaJustin ReadyDistrict 5YeaChris WestDistrict 42YeaNick CharlesDistrict 25YeaAntonio HayesDistrict 40YeaBen KramerDistrict 19YeaJim RosapepeDistrict 21YeaCraig ZuckerDistrict 14YeaPaul CordermanDistrict 2YeaShaneka HensonDistrict 30YeaClarence LamDistrict 12YeaJohnny SallingDistrict 6YeaJ.B. JenningsDistrict 7Not votingJoanne BensonDistrict 24AbsentMary WashingtonDistrict 43Absent
Mr. Presidentas recorded — not linked to a profileYea
Official record — Maryland General Assembly roll call

House of Delegates vote — 119–0

On Third Reading · Mar 18, 2026 · result: pass

119 yea · 0 nay · 22 absent, excused, abstain or not voting

Eric EbersoleDistrict 44AYeaAnne KaiserDistrict 14YeaCheryl PasteurDistrict 11AYeaRyan SpiegelDistrict 17YeaGabriel AceveroDistrict 39YeaElizabeth EmbryDistrict 43AYeaAaron KaufmanDistrict 18YeaEdith PattersonDistrict 28YeaDana SteinDistrict 11BYeaChris AdamsDistrict 37BYeaKris FairDistrict 3YeaKen KerrDistrict 3YeaScott PhillipsDistrict 10YeaVaughn StewartDistrict 19YeaNick AllenDistrict 8YeaDiana FennellDistrict 47AYeaNic KipkeDistrict 31YeaJesse PippyDistrict 4YeaSean StinnettDistrict 41YeaMarlon AmpreyDistrict 40YeaMark FisherDistrict 27CYeaMarc KormanDistrict 16YeaAndrew PruskiDistrict 33AYeaJosh StonkoDistrict 42CYeaSteve ArentzDistrict 36YeaLinda FoleyDistrict 15YeaMary LehmanDistrict 21YeaLily QiDistrict 15YeaKathy SzeligaDistrict 7AYeaLauren ArikanDistrict 7BYeaCathi ForbesDistrict 43BYeaRobbyn LewisDistrict 46YeaPam QueenDistrict 14YeaDeni TaverasDistrict 47BYeaHeather Bagnall TudballDistrict 33CYeaJeff GhristDistrict 36YeaBob LongDistrict 6YeaTeresa ReillyDistrict 35AYeaKym TaylorDistrict 23YeaSandy BartlettDistrict 32YeaRobin GrammerDistrict 6YeaLesley LopezDistrict 39YeaKent RobersonDistrict 25YeaJen TerrasaDistrict 13YeaBarry BeauchampDistrict 38BYeaMike GriffithDistrict 35AYeaDenise RobertsDistrict 25YeaKaren TolesDistrict 25YeaDylan BehlerDistrict 30AYeaMichele GuytonDistrict 42BYeaMike RogersDistrict 32YeaChris TomlinsonDistrict 5YeaHarry BhandariDistrict 8YeaGuy GuzzoneDistrict 13YeaAletheia McCaskillDistrict 44BYeaApril RoseDistrict 5YeaVeronica TurnerDistrict 26YeaRegina BoyceDistrict 43AYeaAndrea HarrisonDistrict 24YeaSusan McComasDistrict 34BYeaSandy RosenbergDistrict 41YeaKris ValderramaDistrict 26YeaJason BuckelDistrict 1BYeaWayne HartmanDistrict 38CYeaRic MetzgarDistrict 6YeaKim RossDistrict 8YeaWilliam ValentineDistrict 2AYeaJon CardinDistrict 11BYeaAnne HealeyDistrict 22YeaApril MillerDistrict 4YeaMalcolm RuffDistrict 41YeaJoe VogelDistrict 17YeaMark ChangDistrict 32YeaTerri HillDistrict 12AYeaBernice Mireku-NorthDistrict 14YeaSheila RuthDistrict 44BYeaJennifer White HollandDistrict 10YeaLorig CharkoudianDistrict 20YeaMarvin HolmesDistrict 23YeaDavid MoonDistrict 20YeaSheree Sample-HughesDistrict 37AYeaJheanelle WilkinsDistrict 20YeaBrian ChisholmDistrict 31YeaKevin HornbergerDistrict 35BYeaGabriel MorenoDistrict 13YeaMatthew SchindlerDistrict 2BYeaGreg WimsDistrict 39YeaLuke ClippingerDistrict 46YeaSeth HowardDistrict 30BYeaMatt MorganDistrict 29AYeaStuart SchmidtDistrict 33BYeaWilliam WivellDistrict 2AYeaDerrick ColeyDistrict 24YeaTom HutchinsonDistrict 37BYeaTodd MorganDistrict 29CYeaEmily ShettyDistrict 18YeaSarah WolekDistrict 16YeaFrank ConawayDistrict 40YeaJay JacobsDistrict 36YeaRyan NawrockiDistrict 7AYeaGary SimmonsDistrict 12BYeaJamila WoodsDistrict 26YeaCharlotte CrutchfieldDistrict 19YeaAndre JohnsonDistrict 34AYeaLaToya NkongoloDistrict 31YeaKaren SimpsonDistrict 3YeaChao WuDistrict 9AYeaBonnie CullisonDistrict 19YeaSteve JohnsonDistrict 34AYeaDarrell OdomDistrict 27AYeaWill SmithDistrict 20YeaNatalie ZieglerDistrict 9AYeaDebra DavisDistrict 28YeaDana JonesDistrict 30AYeaJulie Palakovich CarrDistrict 17YeaJared SolomonDistrict 18YeaAdrian BoafoDistrict 23Not votingBrian CrosbyDistrict 29BNot votingJim HinebaughDistrict 1ANot votingJeff LongDistrict 27BNot votingC.T. WilsonDistrict 28Not votingChristopher BouchatDistrict 5Not votingMark EdelsonDistrict 46Not votingJulian IveyDistrict 47ANot votingNicole WilliamsDistrict 22Not votingJackie AddisonDistrict 45AbsentTerry BakerDistrict 1CAbsentJessica FeldmarkDistrict 12AAbsentRon WatsonDistrict 23AbsentTeresa WoormanDistrict 16AbsentTiffany AlstonDistrict 24AbsentBen BarnesDistrict 21AbsentDavid Fraser-HidalgoDistrict 15AbsentMelissa WellsDistrict 40AbsentCaylin YoungDistrict 45AbsentKevin AndersonDistrict 38AAbsentBarrie CilibertiDistrict 4AbsentAdrienne JonesDistrict 10Absent
Speakeras recorded — not linked to a profileYea
Mangioneas recorded — not linked to a profileYea
Martinezas recorded — not linked to a profileYea
Official record — Maryland General Assembly roll call

How we know this

Every line above comes from the Maryland General Assembly record via Open States. The motion text is shown as recorded, so a procedural vote (to amend, refer or reconsider) is not read as a vote on the bill itself. The source does not say which text version each vote was on; every version is linked below.

Fiscal and Policy Note — official analysis by legislative staff (PDF) Bill text (First reading) — Maryland General Assembly (PDF) Bill text (Third reading) — Maryland General Assembly (PDF) Official record — Maryland General Assembly bill page Report an error on this page

Official records. Maryland legislators, bills and roll-call votes from the Maryland General Assembly, imported through Open States on Oct 29, 2026. Accuracy review against the official site is still under way. Campaign-finance records for Maryland are not imported yet.