Legislation - HB0563

Title: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against
Sponsored by: Delegates Behler, Cardin, Valentine, Phillips, Stinnett, Simmons, McComas, Moreno, Arikan, Mangione, Moon, Conaway, and Woods
Status: In the Senate - First Reading Judicial Proceedings
Analysis: Fiscal and Policy Note (Revised)

Synopsis

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 certain imprisonment, fines, or both upon conviction.

Committees

Original:: Judiciary Click to view Recorded Media

Opposite:: Judicial Proceedings

Committee Testimony

Witness List

Details

Cross-filed with: SB0360

Bill File Type: Regular

Effective Date(s): October 1, 2026

History

Legislation History
Chamber House Calendar Date 1/28/2026 Legislative Date 1/28/2026 Action First Reading Judiciary Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - First - Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 2/02/2026 Legislative Date 2/02/2026 Action Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/20/2026 Legislative Date 3/20/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/20/2026 Legislative Date 3/07/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {953127/1 Adopted Proceedings 44AClick to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/20/2026 Legislative Date 3/07/2026 Action Second Reading Passed with Amendments Proceedings 44AClick to view Recorded Media
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - Third - Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/21/2026 Legislative Date 3/09/2026 Action Third Reading Passed (125-0) Proceedings 46AClick to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/23/2026 Legislative Date 3/07/2026 Action Referred Judicial Proceedings Proceedings 46 Click to view Recorded Media

Chamber	Calendar Date	Legislative Date	Action	Proceedings
House	1/28/2026	1/28/2026	First Reading Judiciary
			Text - First - Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against
House	2/02/2026	2/02/2026	Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.
House	3/20/2026	3/20/2026	Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary
House	3/20/2026	3/07/2026	Favorable with Amendments {953127/1 Adopted	44AClick to view Recorded Media
House	3/20/2026	3/07/2026	Second Reading Passed with Amendments	44AClick to view Recorded Media
			Text - Third - Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against
House	3/21/2026	3/09/2026	Third Reading Passed (125-0)	46AClick to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/23/2026	3/07/2026	Referred Judicial Proceedings	46 Click to view Recorded Media

File Code

Subjects

Statutes