HB 438 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Civil Actions - Tortious Injury to or Death of Pet - Compensatory Damages (Buddy's Law)

HB 438 (Buddy's Law) increases the maximum compensatory damages for pet owners when someone negligently causes injury or death to their domesticated pet. It raises the cap from $10,000 to $25,000, covering costs like veterinary care and the pet’s fair market value before death. The law specifically applies to domesticated pets (excluding livestock) and affects owners in Maryland whose pets are harmed by negligence. The bill amends Maryland’s tort law and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed Apr 22, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Civil Actions - Tortious Injury to or Death of Pet - Compensatory Damages → Third - Civil Actions - Tortious Injury to or Death of Pet - Compensatory Damages (Buddy's Law) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Maryland's pet injury compensation law by increasing the maximum compensatory damages from $10,000 to $25,000 for owners whose pets are tortiously injured or killed. The bill also adds 'Buddy's Law' as a subtitle and expands the list of sponsoring delegates. The effective date remains October 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same - it still applies to tortious injury or death of pets in Maryland, but the financial compensation threshold has increased.

REQUIREMENT

Increased maximum compensatory damages from $10,000 to $25,000 for pet injury or death cases

TECHNICAL

Added 'Buddy's Law' as a subtitle to the bill

Expanded list of sponsoring delegates to include Arikan, Cardin, Kaufman, Phillips, Sample-Hughes, Schmidt, Simpson, Stinnett, and Williams

Added committee report status showing favorable with amendments and house action adopted

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 28, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 22, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 101

executive

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

lower

Feb 28, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (137-0-2)

house of delegates

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors