Thanks to Governor Moore for being a steadfast supporter of animal welfare and signing all five of our bills. Governor Moore reaffirmed his strong commitment to supporting legislation that will benefit Maryland’s animals and residents.
We are so grateful to our bill sponsors: Senator Chris West, Senator Karen Lewis Young, Senator Ben Kramer, Senator Sara Love, Speaker Pro Tem Dana Stein, Delegate Michele Guyton, Delegate Nick Allen, Delegate Sheila Ruth, and Delegate Elizabeth Embry.
Maryland Votes for Animals could not have accomplished these monumental victories without our partners Humane World for Animals, The Maryland State Bar Association Animal Law Section, The Professional Animal Workers Association of Maryland and numerous advocates who used our Action Alerts to let their legislators know that animal issues matter to voters!
Veterinary Loan Forgiveness – Senator Lewis Young/ Delegate Guyton (SB 318/HB 643) Includes veterinarians and veterinary technicians in Maryland’s public service loan repayment program. To qualify, veterinarians and veterinary technicians are required to provide veterinary services in the State or volunteer veterinary services at certain animal shelters for a specified time with the goal of expanding access to veterinary care and easing the veterinary shortage by incentivizing more veterinarians to work in Maryland.
Crimes Related to Animals – Restrictions on Keeping Roosters – Senator Kramer/Delegate Allen (SB 375/ HB 513) Prohibits keeping or breeding roosters for cockfighting, which is illegal in Maryland and has been linked to many other forms of criminal activity.
Stacking Animal Cruelty Offenses – Senator West/Delegate Embry (SB152/HB 89) This bill corrects a prior decision made in a sentencing commission such that in cases where an individual is accused of cruelty to multiple animals, charges can now be brought for each individual animal that is harmed.
Pet Policy Transparency Act – Senator Love/Delegate Stein (SB 896/HB 1152) Requires the landlord of residential rental property to provide the property’s pet policies and restrictions on their website and on rental applications.
Wildlife Crossings – Senator Lewis Young/Delegate Ruth (SB 635/ HB 731) Establishes the Maryland Connectivity Coalition to foster collaboration among State and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders for the purpose of protecting endangered wildlife from habitat fragmentation.