SB 172 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Corporations and Associations - Methodist Churches - Trust Requirement Repeal and Disaffiliation

SB 172 changes Maryland law to allow local Methodist churches to keep their buildings when leaving the United Methodist Church. Previously, churches had to hold property in trust for the denomination. Now, disaffiliating churches retain ownership of their real property but must reimburse the United Methodist Church for specific investments made to the property (like acquisition, maintenance, or improvements). The bill also removes an outdated rule about property deeds signed before 1953. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Oct 10, 2025 Last action Mar 26, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Corporations and Associations - Methodist Churches - Trust Requirement Repeal and Disaffiliation → Third - Corporations and Associations - Methodist Churches - Trust Requirement Repeal and Disaffiliation · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill repeals a requirement that Methodist church property be held in trust for the United Methodist Church, allowing local churches to disaffiliate and retain ownership of their property. The changes renumber existing sections and remove the trust clause that previously bound church assets to the denomination.

Scope change

The bill applies to all Methodist churches in Maryland, including former Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, and Evangelical United Brethren churches.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that Methodist church assets be held in trust for the United Methodist Church

Removed provisions requiring disaffiliating churches to reimburse the United Methodist Conference for financial investments in real property

TECHNICAL

Added committee report and Senate action status indicating the bill was favorably reported and adopted

Renumbered existing sections of the Annotated Code of Maryland from 5-326 and 5-328 to 5-327

ENFORCEMENT

Added signature lines for Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Delegates

Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026

How they voted

45–2

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 49

Feb 27, 2026

D Democratic36

33 Yea 1 Nay 2

91% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1 Nay

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 13, 2026

Committee

Referred Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (45-2-2)

senate

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judicial Proceedings

upper

Oct 10, 2025

Introduced

Pre-filed

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors