Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB563: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
Repealing the prohibition against intentionally inflicting bodily harm, permanent disability, or death on an animal owned or used by a law enforcement unit; prohibiting a person from harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing or causing serious physical injury to an emergency response animal; and establishing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment for up to 2 years, or a fine of up to $10,000, or both upon conviction.
What the bill says
An act concerning Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against FOR the purpose of repealing the prohibition against intentionally inflicting bodily harm, permanent disability, or death on an animal owned or used by a law enforcement unit; prohibiting a person from harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing or causing serious physical injury to an emergency response animal; and generally relating to law enforcement animals…
From the enrolled text, May 18, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against FOR the purpose of repealing the prohibition against intentionally inflicting bodily harm, permanent disability, or death on an animal owned or used by a law enforcement unit; prohibiting a person from harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing or causing serious physical injury to an emergency response animal; and generally relating to law enforcement animals. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Criminal Law Section 10-606 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Criminal Law Section 10-606.1 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Criminal Procedure Section 10-101(a) and (g) Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Criminal Law 10-606. (a) (1) In this section, "sexual contact with an animal" means any act: (i) 2. contact between: Ch. 402 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND A. the sex organ or anus of a person and the mouth, sex organ, or anus of an animal; or B. the sex organ or anus of an animal, and the mouth, sex organ, or anus of a person; or 3. insertion of: A. …
Sponsors
- Dylan Behler (D, 30A) · primary sponsor
- Jon Cardin (D, HD-011)
- William Valentine (R, 2A)
- Scott Phillips (D, HD-010)
- Sean Stinnett (D, HD-041)
- Gary Simmons (D, 12B)
- Susan McComas (R, HD-034B)
- Moreno (D)
- Lauren Arikan (R, 7B)
- Nino Mangione (R, 42A)
- David Moon (D, 20)
- Frank Conaway (D, HD-040)
Latest actions
- : Approved by the Governor - Chapter 402
- : Passed Enrolled
- : Third Reading Passed (133-0)
- : House Concurs Senate Amendments
- : Third Readings Passed with Amendments (44-0)
- : Floor Amendment {733720/1 (Senator Henson) Adopted
- : Motion Special Order until Next Session (Senator Henson) Adopted
- : Motion Special Order until 4/9 (Senator Henson) Adopted
- : Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- : Favorable with Amendments {403227/1 Adopted
Votes
- Third Readings Passed with Amendments (44-0) (April 10, 2026): 44 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (133-0) (April 10, 2026): 133 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (125-0) (March 21, 2026): 125 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB563?
- HB563 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against.
- What does HB563 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against FOR the purpose of repealing the prohibition against intentionally inflicting bodily harm, permanent disability, or death on an animal owned or used by a law enforcement unit; prohibiting a person from harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing or causing serious physical injury to an emergency response animal; and generally relating to law enforcement animals…
- What is the status of HB563?
- Signed into law as of May 12, 2026. Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 402 (May 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB563?
- Dylan Behler (D, 30A), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB563?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0563?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.