SB 4 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Charitable Organizations - Charitable Donation and Tax-Exempt Status - Revocation (Keeping Charities Nonpartisan Act of 2026)

SB 4, the "Keeping Charities Nonpartisan Act of 2026," requires charitable organizations recognized by the IRS for tax-deductible donations to remain nonpartisan. It prohibits these groups from participating in political campaigns for or against candidates for public office. The bill authorizes Maryland’s Secretary of State and Attorney General to jointly revoke a charity’s tax-exempt status if it violates this rule, and mandates that the Comptroller and State Department of Assessments and Taxation must revoke related state tax exemptions. This directly affects Maryland-based charities receiving federal tax-deductible donations, requiring them to avoid political activity to maintain their tax status.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Aug 25, 2025 Last action Apr 9, 2026
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What changed between versions

First - Charitable Organizations - Charitable Donation and Tax-Exempt Status - Revocation (Keeping Charities Nonpartisan Act of 2026) Third - Charitable Organizations - Charitable Donation and Tax-Exempt Status - Revocation (Keeping Charities Nonpartisan Act of 2026) · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was updated to reflect its progression through the legislative process, including a favorable committee report and adoption with amendments. Substantively, the definition of a 'charitable organization' was expanded to explicitly include private foundations recognized by the IRS, and the prohibition against political campaign intervention now explicitly applies to these private foundations as well.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include private foundations under its definitions and prohibitions, whereas the previous version did not explicitly mention them.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'charitable organization' was updated to explicitly include private foundations recognized by the IRS.

The prohibition on political campaign intervention was clarified to apply to private foundations in addition to other charitable organizations.

TECHNICAL

Header metadata was updated to reflect the bill's current status, including a favorable committee report and floor adoption.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 9, 2026

How they voted

3314
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 49
Mar 9, 2026
D Democratic36
32 Yea 2 Nay 2
88% Yea
R Republican13
1 Yea 12 Nay
92% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
9
Committee
8
Amendments
1
Apr 9, 2026
Committee
Rereferred to Economic Matters
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
Referred Rules and Executive Nominations
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Introduced
Floor Amendment {
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Adopted
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion Special Order until 3/23 (Senator Kagan) Adopted
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment {
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion Special Order until Next Session (Senator Salling) Adopted
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (33-14-2)
senate
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment and Budget and Taxation
upper
Aug 25, 2025
Introduced
Pre-filed
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors