Criminal Law - Human Remains, Pet Remains, and Cemeteries - Prohibitions

HB 1000 updates Maryland's criminal law to strengthen protections for human and pet remains in cemeteries. It expands the definition of "permanent cemetery" to include family- and religious organization-owned sites (previously limited to corporations, nonprofits, or state-owned cemeteries) and prohibits tampering with human remains in cemeteries, as well as damaging, trafficking, or transporting human or pet remains without authorization. Violations carry felony penalties: up to 15 years in prison and $30,000 fines for repeat offenses, with civil lawsuits allowed for family members to seek damages. The bill specifically prohibits handling pet remains in cemeteries, except under a defined exception, and increases penalties for offenses against cemetery structures or funerary objects.