Human Relations - Protection of the Free Exercise of Religion
Sponsor: Stuart Michael Schmidt, Jr. (District 33B)Committee: Government, Labor, and ElectionsSubject: Human RelationsStatus: Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Prohibiting a governmental authority, under certain circumstances, from burdening a person's exercise of religion; and authorizing a person aggrieved by a violation of the Act to obtain certain relief in a civil action.
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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.
Testimony (34)
MGA witness listFAV 14FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 19Unfavorable
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Schultz, Tim | 1st Amendment Partnership | Oral |
| FAV | Sadwin, Rabbi Ariel | Agudath Israel of Maryland | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Schmidley, Joseph | High Point Independent Baptist Church | Oral |
| FAV | Rosenberg, Samuel | House of Delegates | Oral |
| FAV | Arcand, Paul | Lighthouse Baptist | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Vaughn, R James | Maryland Baptist for Biblical Values | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Creed, Terrylobbyist | Maryland Baptists for Biblical Values | Oral |
| FAV | Alexandre, Jonathan | Maryland Family Institute | Oral |
| FAV | Creed, Patrick | Pastor | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Kaplowitz, Richard KAP | Year | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Davis, Tony | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Delegate Schmidt, Delegate Schmidtlegislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Kraska, Jennylobbyist | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Rosa, Richard | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Anderson, Victoria | American Atheists | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Nartowicz, Nikolaslobbyist | Americans United for Separation of Church and State | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Price, Suzanne | Concerned Citizen | Position only |
| UNF | Tarsel, Emily | Health Choice Maryland.org | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Kelly, John | MD Citizen | Oral |
| UNF | Dove, S. Spencer | Maryland Commission on Civil Rights | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Browning, Jeremy | Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Allen, Luke | Planned Parenthood of Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Goldstein, Mathew | Secular Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | West, Christopher | Self | Oral |
| UNF | Phelps Jr, Ken | The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland | Oral |
| UNF | Reid, Michael | Washington Area Secular Humanists (WASH) | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Ferrell, Valerie | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Jasen, Debi | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Kolakoski, Virginia | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Lang, Alan | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Littell, Melinda | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Meyer, Daniel | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Meyerovich, Mark | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Tibbals, Trudy | Individual | Written (PDF) |
Organizations on record
American AtheistsUNF 1
Concerned CitizenUNF 1
House of DelegatesFAV 1
Lighthouse BaptistFAV 1
MD CitizenUNF 1
PastorFAV 1
Secular MarylandUNF 1
SelfUNF 1
YearFAV 1
Registered lobbyists who testified
FAVCreed, TerryMaryland Baptists for Biblical ValuesRegistered for: Maryland Baptists for Biblical Values
UNFNartowicz, NikolasAmericans United for Separation of Church and StateRegistered for: Americans United for the Separation of Church and State