Senate approves repeal of Methodist church trust requirement after brief constitutional debate

The Maryland Senate voted to pass SB 172, a bill that would repeal a statutory trust requirement affecting Methodist congregations that seek to disaffiliate. The measure received 40 affirmative votes and was declared passed on third reading.

Senator, District 42 raised constitutional concerns before the vote, noting that the attorney general had advised the chamber about potential constitutional problems with earlier versions of similar legislation and that a related case in Anne Arundel County had been litigated and was on appeal. "The attorney general has issued an opinion with respect to this bill… the issue addressed by this bill is currently being litigated in the Maryland courts," the senator said, urging colleagues to be aware of those facts as they consider their vote.

The bill sponsor, identified on the floor as the sponsor of SB 172, answered that multiple attorney general opinions — including letters the sponsor said were as recent as March 2025 — supported the constitutionality of the current version of the bill. The sponsor said the opinions showed the bill does not require courts to interpret religious doctrine and that prior versions were treated differently. "I have 4 attorney general opinions that say this is not unconstitutional," the sponsor said and urged a favorable vote.

Following the exchange, the Senate proceeded to the roll call and with 40 affirmative votes the presiding officer declared SB 172 passed. The clerk recorded the vote tally as meeting the constitutional majority required for passage on third reading.

Next steps: SB 172 will be carried forward through the legislative process as passed by the Senate; any further judicial consideration noted on the floor (ongoing appellate litigation) was not resolved during today’s session.

Authorities mentioned on the floor include attorney general opinions and an ongoing circuit‑court‑level case in Anne Arundel County; the session record does not include the full text of those opinions or the court decision.