# Maryland SB 0177: Criminal Law - Obstruction or Interference With Exercise of Religious Beliefs - Prohibition

Maryland SB 0177, Criminal Law - Obstruction or Interference With Exercise of Religious Beliefs - Prohibition, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Chris West (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 425); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0177-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0177
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Law - Obstruction or Interference With Exercise of Religious Beliefs - Prohibition
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-10-21
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 425
- Sponsor: Chris West (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes, Cemeteries, Civil Rights and Social Equity, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Injury, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Places of Worship -see also- Religion, Private Schools -see also- Primary Schools; Secondary Sch, Threats, Violence -see also- Domestic Violence; Hate Crimes
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (163 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Blocking access at religious sites is a crime: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, it is a crime to use force, threats, or physical blocking at a religious facility. You cannot stop someone from entering or leaving, or interfere while they lawfully practice their religion. “Religious facility” includes places of worship, cemeteries, religious schools, c…
- Crime for blocking medical access repealed: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the state no longer treats physically blocking or detaining someone at a medical facility as a separate misdemeanor. The prior penalty had been up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine. That specific offense is repealed.
- Crime for damaging religious property repealed: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the state repeals the misdemeanor for defacing, damaging, destroying, or threatening to damage property used for religious purposes. This includes places of worship, cemeteries, religious schools, community centers, and adjacent grounds. The prior penalty had been up to 9…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Chris West (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 119 | 0 | 9 |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 425
- 2026-04-06: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-03: Third Reading Passed (119-0) (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-09: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-06: Third Reading Passed (44-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Favorable with Amendments Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Motion Special Order until 3/4 (Senator Kagan) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable with Amendments {413927/1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Hearing 1/20 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2025-10-21: Pre-filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_425_sb0177t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0177t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0177f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_425_sb0177t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0177t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0177f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0177-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).