Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB564: Pet Cremation and Burial Services - Requirements (Pet Cremation and Burial Services Consumer Protection Act)
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
Establishing certain consumer protection requirements for registered cemeterians, registered cemetery operators, and certain permit holders and licensees that sell or offer for sale pet cremation services for pet remains; establishing the duties of certain persons responsible for returning pet cremains to certain animal owners after cremation; and providing certain penalties for a first violation of the Act, increasing with the second violation, and for a third violation a fine of up to $15,000, and imprisonment of up to 3 years or both.
What the bill says
An act concerning Business Regulation - Pet Cremation and Burial Services - Requirements (Pet Cremation and Burial Services Consumer Protection Act) FOR the purpose of establishing certain consumer protection requirements for registered cemeterians, registered cemetery operators, or and certain permit holders and licensees that sell or offer for sale pet cremation services of pet remains; establishing the duties of certain persons responsible for returning pet cremains to certain animal owners after cremation; and generally relating to the cremation of pet remains…
From the enrolled text, May 19, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Business Regulation - Pet Cremation and Burial Services - Requirements (Pet Cremation and Burial Services Consumer Protection Act) FOR the purpose of establishing certain consumer protection requirements for registered cemeterians, registered cemetery operators, or and certain permit holders and licensees that sell or offer for sale pet cremation services of pet remains; establishing the duties of certain persons responsible for returning pet cremains to certain animal owners after cremation; and generally relating to the cremation of pet remains. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Business Regulation Section 5-101(a), (f) through (i), and (s) Annotated Code of Maryland (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing Article - Business Regulation Section 5-101(t) Annotated Code of Maryland (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Business Regulation Section 5-101(u) through (dd) and 5-804 Annotated Code of Maryland (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Business Regulation Section 5-7A-01 through 5-7A-05, 5-7A-07, and 5-7A-08 to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle 7A. Pet Cremation and Burial Services" Annotated Code of Maryland (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Commercial Law Section 13-301(14)(xlvii) and (xlviii) Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Ch. 547 2026 LAWS …