Maryland’s Senate moved forward with a bill establishing Jewish and Muslim heritage months Tuesday while rejecting an amendment to add a Christian heritage month.

The amendment aimed to make April “Christian American Heritage Month,” but it was rejected 19-26, according to the Maryland General Assembly.

The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboardIf passed, House Bill 661 will officially establish January as Muslim American Heritage Month and May as Jewish American Heritage Month in the official state calendar. The bill requires the governor to proclaim the months annually, so that the proclamations would “urge certain organizations to observe the months with certain programs and activities” relating to the heritage of both religions.

The bill says there are around 350,000 Muslim Marylanders and 250,000 Jewish Marylanders residing in the state who have “contributed to enriching the artistic, business, academic, and public service communities thereby significantly increasing the vibrancy” of the state.

However, 58% of Maryland’s 6 million residents identify as Christians, according to Pew Research.

405408 02: The St. Edward Roman Catholic Church Stands On A Corner Lot May 15, 2002 In Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo By Alex Dorgan-Ross/Getty Images)

The commonwealth of Maryland was established in the 1600s as a refuge for English Catholics to escape persecution, before they were outnumbered by Protestant settlers, according to the Bill of Rights Institute.

Democratic State Sen. Dalya Attar, the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in the state’s Senate, claimed that Muslims and Jews are disproportionately the target of hate crimes across the country, according to News From the States.

Democratic State Sen. Ben Kramer said the bill aims to provide “equity and visibility.”

“The goal here is to offer, in my mind, a little bit of equity and visibility to those cultures that, again, have been very much subjected to bias and hate, which is what we are experiencing at a significantly higher level in our country at this point in time,” Kramer said, according to the outlet.

Maryland already recognizes 20 commemorative days, seven months and one week — but the proposed heritage months would be the first examples to include a religious aspect, News From the States reported.

During yesterday’s floor session, my colleague & fellow member of the MD Legislative Muslim Caucus, Delegate Sarah Wolek & Delegate Jared Solomon’s HB 661 General Provisions – Commemorative Months – Muslim American Heritage and Jewish American Heritage Months has moved Favorable. pic.twitter.com/JoVUK0fJTn

— Delegate Sean A. Stinnett (@Stinnett_41st) March 22, 2026

The rejection of the Christian Heritage amendment comes as the bill makes its way through both chambers and approaches the final review process before being sent to the governor, and comes as the end of the legislative session draws near.

Democratic State Sen. Antonio Hayes said he prayed about how to respond to the bill before ultimately choosing to vote against the amendment, according to News From the States.

“I understand the symbolism behind it. I understand the people behind it, but I just have a serious problem with the process, that we are in the final days of this legislative session, committing so much time and energy to something that I think creates even more division,” Hayes said, claiming that “it has people walking away.”

Six Democrats joined the 13 Senate Republicans in voting for the failed amendment, with the bill expected to receive a final vote in the Senate potentially on Wednesday, News From the States reported.