SB 535

Human Relations - Housing Discrimination - Service Dogs

Sponsor: Mary-Dulany James (District 34)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Human RelationsStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 212 (as of Nov 9, 2023)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting a person from discriminating in the sale or rental of, or otherwise making unavailable or denying, a dwelling to an individual with a disability who has, obtains, or retains a certain service dog; and defining 'service dog' as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (17)

MGA witness list

FAV 11FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Williams, Hindley	Maryland Centers for Independent Living	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ford, Gerald	Maryland Commission on Civil Rights	Written (PDF)
FAV	Radov, Lisa	Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Maneki, Sharon	National Federation of the Blind of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kivioja, Susan	Office of Sen James	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jasen, Debi	Individual	Position only
FAV	Jasen, Debi	Individual	Position only
FAV	Kivioja, Susan	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lent, Michael	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator James, Senator Jameslegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator James, Senator Jameslegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
FWA	Bevan-Dangel, Jenniferlobbyist	Humane Society of the United States	Written (PDF)
FWA	Williams, Hindley	Maryland Centers for Independent Living	Written (PDF)
FWA	London, Rachel	Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council	Written (PDF)
FWA	Radov, Lisa	Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.	Written (PDF)
INFO	Ford, Gerald	Maryland Commission on Civil Rights	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Humane Society of the United StatesFWA 1

Maryland Centers for Independent LivingFAV 1FWA 1

Maryland Commission on Civil RightsFAV 1INFO 1

Maryland Developmental Disabilities CouncilFWA 1

Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.FAV 1FWA 1

National Federation of the Blind of MarylandFAV 1

Office of Sen JamesFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FWABevan-Dangel, JenniferHumane Society of the United StatesRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Humane Society of the United States; Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Humane World for Animals