HB 563 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against

HB 563 strengthens protections for law enforcement and search/rescue animals by making it a crime to harm them during their duties. The bill prohibits intentionally harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing emergency response animals (including police dogs, horses used by police, and search/rescue dogs), and adds penalties for these acts. Violations are classified as misdemeanors with fines up to $15,000 or jail terms up to 5 years, depending on the severity. This directly affects anyone who targets these animals while they are performing official law enforcement or rescue tasks. The law replaces an outdated provision that previously allowed intentional harm to such animals.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against → Enrolled - Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against · 4 edits · May 12, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was formally enrolled and finalized for the Governor's signature. Substantively, the text of the law remains identical to the previous version, preserving the criminal penalties for harming animals and the specific protections for emergency response animals like police dogs and search and rescue horses.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it continues to prohibit harming animals and protect emergency response animals.

TECHNICAL

Removed the introductory text indicating the bill was assigned to the Judiciary committee and reported favorably, as these procedural steps are now complete.

Added official enrollment markings, including the Great Seal presentation language and signature lines for the Governor and Speaker.

Updated the header to reflect the bill's status as an 'Enrolled Bill' and adjusted page numbering and formatting to match the final enrolled version.

Included standard proofreader signature lines required for the final enrolled version of the bill.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 26, 2026

How they voted

46–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 49

Mar 23, 2026

D Democratic36

33 Yea 3

91% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 402

executive

Apr 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Enrolled

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

House Concurs Senate Amendments

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until Next Session (Senator Henson) Adopted

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 4/9 (Senator Henson) Adopted

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 26, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-8)

house of delegates

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (46-0-3)

senate

Mar 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

13 primary · 0 co-sponsors