Senate sponsor revises bill to broaden 'faith institution' language; bill moved to special order

Senator Kagan, as the bill sponsor and floor leader, introduced legislation to update state code language that currently uses the word “church” and gendered phrases such as “clergyman.” She said the bill would make the law “more accurate” by replacing church with a broader, inclusive definition covering “churches, synagogues, temples, mosques” and other places of worship and by changing terms like “clergyman” to “member of the clergy.”

The bill drew several floor questions about how the definition would be read in practice. Senator Merchant (District 1) and another senator pressing the point asked whether the wording – in particular the clause “any other religious society or congregation of any sect, order, or denomination” – could be interpreted to include groups that many lawmakers found objectionable. “Is the House of Satan in our code?” one senator asked. Kagan replied, “I don’t think the House of Satan is in our code. This is really about options for tax treatment and gathering places…we just want to say wherever it is you worship.”

A different senator said an online search for the phrase “faith institution” returned extremist and fringe groups and asked whether the bill as written would encompass them. Kagan and the bill’s drafter said the language was intended to clarify existing statutory references, not to endorse or expand recognition of any particular sect. A senator asked to special-order the bill to allow time to propose alternate language; without objection the Senate agreed to place the bill as a special order for a later floor session.

Actions taken on the floor were procedural: the sponsor moved adoption of committee amendments and the favorable committee report, and then the bill was placed on special order for further consideration. No final vote on passage occurred during the Feb. 20 session.

Why it matters: The bill would modernize statutory terminology used across many provisions of Maryland law. Lawmakers said the change is intended to remove gendered language and to make clear that legal references to “church” cover all congregations and places of worship. Critics urged clearer drafting to avoid unintended inclusions or future litigation.

Next steps: The Senate placed the measure on special order so the sponsor and colleagues could refine the language and return with amended text on a later day.