Bill > HB1472

This bill creates a new initiative to place a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Maryland State House, establishing a dedicated Commission on the Ten Commandments Monument to oversee its design and placement. The monument will display the full text of the Ten Commandments and will be developed and constructed by a private entity at no cost to the state. The seven-member Commission, consisting of appointees from the Senate President, House Speaker, and Governor, will be responsible for developing the monument's design and placement process by December 31, 2025, with a requirement to complete all duties by June 30, 2027. The Commission on Artistic Property will be responsible for the monument's ongoing care and maintenance. The bill includes provisions ensuring that the monument's placement does not suggest state preference for any particular religion, and provides for potential legal defense if the monument's constitutionality is challenged, with the Attorney General able to either prepare a defense or request assistance from a nonprofit legal organization specializing in First Amendment cases. The Commission will automatically be disbanded on June 30, 2028, and the monument will become a permanent feature of the State House grounds.

Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1472?ys=2025RS