# Maryland HB 0563: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against

Maryland HB 0563, Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dylan Behler (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 402); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0563-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0563
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 402
- Sponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 12
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Death -see also- Homicide; Murder; Wrongful Death, Disabilities, Dogs, Emergency Services -see also- Ambul; Emergencies; etc., Harassment -see also- Threats, Horses, Injury, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Rescue Squads -see also- Emergency Medical Serv, Self Defense
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 3 (302 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stronger protections for police and rescue animals: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law protects police and rescue animals while they work. You may not harass, interfere with, injure, kill, or cause serious injury to them. Harassment or injury is a misdemeanor with up to 1 year in jail or a $5,000 fine. Killing or causing serious injury, or doing the…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lauren Arikan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jon S. Cardin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Frank M. Conaway (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mangione
- Cosponsor: Susan K. McComas (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: David Moon (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gabriel M. Moreno (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: N. Scott Phillips (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gary Simmons (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sean A. Stinnett (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: William Valentine (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jamila J. Woods (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 133 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026-04-10 | Senate | Third Readings Passed with Amendments | pass | 44 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026-03-21 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 125 | 0 | 8 |

## Actions (18)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 402
- 2026-04-10: Passed Enrolled (House)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (133-0) (House)
- 2026-04-10: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-10: Third Readings Passed with Amendments (44-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Floor Amendment {733720/1 (Senator Henson) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Motion Special Order until Next Session (Senator Henson) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Motion Special Order until 4/9 (Senator Henson) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-07: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-07: Favorable with Amendments {403227/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-06: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-21: Third Reading Passed (125-0) (House)
- 2026-03-20: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments {953127/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-02: Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-28: First Reading Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_402_hb0563e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0563e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0563t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0563f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_402_hb0563e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0563e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0563t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0563f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0563-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).