General Provisions - Commemorative Months - Muslim American Heritage and Jewish American Heritage Months, the official text

WES MOORE, Governor                  Ch. 358

Chapter 358

                   (House Bill 661)

AN ACT concerning

General Provisions – Commemorative Months – Muslim American Heritage and
                                   Jewish American Heritage Months

FOR the purpose of requiring the Governor annually to proclaim certain months as Muslim
         American Heritage and Jewish American Heritage months; requiring the
         proclamations to urge certain organizations to observe the months with certain
         programs and activities; and generally relating to Muslim American Heritage and
         Jewish American Heritage months.

BY renumbering
         Article – General Provisions
         Section 7–501 through 7–503 and 7–504 through 7–507
         to be Section 7–502 through 7–504 and 7–506 through 7–509, respectively
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

BY adding to
         Article – General Provisions
         Section 7–501 and 7–505
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

                   Preamble

         WHEREAS, There are over 350,000 Muslim Marylanders who currently reside in
the State and, for generations, have contributed to enriching the artistic, business,
academic, and public service communities thereby significantly increasing the vibrancy of
Maryland; and

         WHEREAS, There are over 250,000 Jewish Marylanders who currently reside in the
State and, for generations, have contributed to enriching the artistic, business, academic,
and public service communities thereby significantly increasing the vibrancy of Maryland;
now, therefore,

         SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That Section(s) 7–501 through 7–503 and 7–504 through 7–507 of Article – General
Provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 7–502
through 7–504 and 7–506 through 7–509, respectively.

         SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read
as follows:

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Ch. 358  2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND

                                         Article – General Provisions

7–501.

        (A) THE GOVERNOR ANNUALLY SHALL PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JANUARY
AS MUSLIM AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN RECOGNITION OF THE
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MUSLIM AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THE STATE.

        (B) THE PROCLAMATION SHALL URGE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS TO OBSERVE MUSLIM AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PROPERLY
WITH APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS, CEREMONIES, AND ACTIVITIES.

7–505.

        (A) THE GOVERNOR ANNUALLY SHALL PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY AS
JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS
THAT JEWISH AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THE STATE.

        (B) THE PROCLAMATION SHALL URGE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS TO OBSERVE JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PROPERLY
WITH APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS, CEREMONIES, AND ACTIVITIES.

         SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2026.

Approved by the Governor, May 12, 2026.

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