On April 28th, Governor Wes Moore signed two bills to protect and improve the lives of animals in Maryland. These laws address both the treatment of animals in laboratory settings and the conservation of endangered and threatened species, including migratory birds.
The Animal Research and Best Practices Act of 2026 – Senator Kramer/Delegate Cullison
SB 423 focuses on reducing unnecessary animal testing. It requires laboratories to switch to non-animal alternatives as soon as they are federally approved and adds transparency by requiring annual reporting on the use of dogs and cats in experiments and how many are adopted after the conclusion of the experiments.
Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds – Senator Brooks and Delegate Palakovich Carr
SB 431/HB 578 updates how Maryland manages endangered and threatened species. It ensures regular review of species listings, refines how decisions are made about protections, allows for the designation of essential habitats, and strengthens protections for migratory birds.
Maryland Votes for Animals is grateful to Governor Moore, our bill sponsors, our partners including Humane World for Animals, and the many advocates who used our Action Alerts to urge their legislators to support these bills. These wins truly show that animal welfare matters to Marylanders!