HB 53

Did not advance

Criminal Law – Nondomesticated Animal Prohibitions – Alterations

Sponsor: Mary A. Lehman (District 21)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Criminal Law - Substantive CrimesStatus: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering an exception to the prohibition against the possession of certain nondomesticated animals in the State by reducing from 10 days to 48 hours the amount of time a nonresident may travel through the State with an otherwise prohibited animal; repealing the exception to the prohibition against the possession by a person with certain disabilities of certain nondomesticated animals for a certain purpose; etc.

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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 (36)

MGA witness list

FAV 29FavorableUNF 6UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Dylewsky, Kate	Animal Welfare Institute	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dylewsky, Kate	Animal Welfare Institute	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schowe, Devan	Born Free USA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schowe, Devan	Born Free USA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Crooms, Andi	Circular Action Alliance	Oral
FAV	Demiray, Sonia	Climate Communications Coalition	Position only
FAV	Hillman, DeEtte	Days End Farm Horse Rescue	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lary, Melanie	FOUR PAWS USA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Taylor, Valerie	Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries	Written (PDF)
FAV	Taylor, Valerie	Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries	Written (PDF)
FAV	Volodin, Staceylobbyist	Humane World for Animals	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Volodin, Staceylobbyist	Humane World for Animals	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Scott, Courtney	In Defense of Animals	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lehman, Mary	MGA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lehman, Mary	MGA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fullerton, Kimberly	Maryland State Bar Association - Animal Law Section	Oral
FAV	Fullerton, Kimberly	Maryland State Bar Association - Animal Law Section	Oral
FAV	Radov, Lisa	Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Radov, Lisa	Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Gray, Amanda	North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gray, Amanda	North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance	Written (PDF)
FAV	Crankshaw-Quimby, Patty	Professional Animal Workers of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Crankshaw-Quimby, Patty	Professional Animal Workers of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cabrera Holtz, Liz	World Animal Protection	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cabrera Holtz, Liz	World Animal Protection	Written (PDF)
FAV	Crooms, Andrea	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Lehman, Delegate Lehmanlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Lehman, Delegate Lehmanlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Shewakena, Liya	Individual	Oral
UNF	McSweeney, Patrick	Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Martini, Alison	Marymont Animal Hospital, Inc.	Written (PDF)
UNF	Patterson, Mindy	The Cavalry Group	Written (PDF)
UNF	Oliver, Jeff	private owner, no organization	Oral
UNF	Toney, Mike	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Weesner, Mark	Individual	Oral
INFO	Bauer, Danielle	Maryland Veterinary Medical Association	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Animal Medical and Surgical HospitalUNF 1

Animal Welfare InstituteFAV 2

Born Free USAFAV 2

Circular Action AllianceFAV 1

Climate Communications CoalitionFAV 1

Days End Farm Horse RescueFAV 1

FOUR PAWS USAFAV 1

Global Federation of Animal SanctuariesFAV 2

Humane World for AnimalsFAV 2

In Defense of AnimalsFAV 1

Maryland State Bar Association - Animal Law SectionFAV 2

Maryland Veterinary Medical AssociationINFO 1

Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.FAV 2

Marymont Animal Hospital, Inc.UNF 1

MGAFAV 2

North American Primate Sanctuary AllianceFAV 2

private owner, no organizationUNF 1

Professional Animal Workers of MarylandFAV 2

The Cavalry GroupUNF 1

World Animal ProtectionFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVVolodin, StaceyHumane World for AnimalsRegistered for: Humane World for Animals