# Maryland HB 0564: Pet Cremation and Burial Services - Requirements (Pet Cremation and Burial Services Consumer Protection Act)

Maryland HB 0564, Pet Cremation and Burial Services - Requirements (Pet Cremation and Burial Services Consumer Protection Act), is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Nick Allen (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 547) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0564-2026RS
- 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 0564
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Pet Cremation and Burial Services - Requirements (Pet Cremation and Burial Services Consumer Protection Act)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 547
- Sponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 28
- Subjects: Business Regulation, Administrative Agencies, Animals -see also- Birds; Dogs; Domestic An; Horses; Livestk, Attorney General, Cemeteries, Certifications, Civil Actions -see also- Small Claims, Civil Offenses, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Committees and Commissions, Consumer Protection, Courts -see also- AppCt; Circuit; District; Orphans'; etc., Cremation, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Disclosure, Domestic Animals -see also- Birds; Dogs, Ethics, Fines -see also- Penalties and Sentences, Funerals, Goods and Services -see also- Retail Sales; TermnSvc; TrfGds, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Health Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations), Identification -see also- Biometrics; Fingerprinting; DrLics, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Morticians, Notices, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Privacy, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Registration -see also- Motor Vehicle Registration, Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Standards and Best Practices, Veterinarians
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (304 yes, 4 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 6

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Tough penalties and consumer enforcement: benefit, medium. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, breaking this law is a misdemeanor with rising penalties: up to $5,000 and/or 1 year in jail for a first conviction; up to $10,000 and/or 2 years for a second; and up to $15,000 and/or 3 years for later convictions. The Board or Director can refer cases for civil or criminal…
- Clear, free info on pet cremation: benefit, low. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, pet cremation businesses must give a free, written description of every service they offer. It must clearly explain private, individual‑partitioned, and communal cremations, without confusing or misleading text. Owners who arrange a service get a copy, and the Maryland Depart…
- Paper trail when ashes are returned: benefit, low. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, when ashes are returned, the provider must include a certificate. It must show the cremation date and say the service followed the written description, industry standards, and the law. Anyone who returns the ashes to the owner (like a vet or pet shop) must also give a copy of…
- Perpetual care promises must be honored: benefit, low. If a sale of pet cremation, a burial lot, or a burial right says or implies “perpetual care,” the cemetery owes ongoing care. The Office of Cemetery Oversight will set rules to enforce this duty.
- Safe handling and 5‑year records: benefit, low. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, holding areas must protect worker health, follow the law, and treat pet remains with dignity. Providers must keep signed cremation authorizations, ID tags or tracking records, and a log with the date, method, and who performed each cremation for at least 5 years. Records with…
- Who this pet law covers: benefit, low. The law defines key terms like pet, pet remains, and ashes. It covers businesses that run pet cemeteries or crematories and sell burial lots or cremation. It also covers licensed crematory operators who sell pet cremation to the public. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, the Health Occupations rules apply to l…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tiffany T. Alston (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Heather Bagnall (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Harry Bhandari (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jon S. Cardin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mark S. Chang (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Bonnie Cullison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dana Jones (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Eric Ebersole (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Elizabeth Embry (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kris Fair (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Catherine M. Forbes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michele Guyton (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Pam Lanman Guzzone (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terri L. Hill (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas S. Hutchinson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Aaron M. Kaufman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nicholaus R. Kipke (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Lesley J. Lopez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ashanti Martinez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Teresa E. Reilly (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Samuel I. Rosenberg (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kim Ross (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sheila Ruth (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Steve Johnson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Deni Taveras (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer White Holland (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Teresa Woorman (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 46 | 1 |   |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 132 | 2 | 6 |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 126 | 1 | 5 |

## Actions (21)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 547
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (132-2) (House)
- 2026-04-13: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (46-1) (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {453224/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Hearing 3/24 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Referred Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Third Reading Passed (126-1) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable with Amendments {613521/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable with Amendments Report by Health (House)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing 2/18 at 1:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-02-05: Reassigned to Health (House)
- 2026-02-03: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-28: First Reading Economic Matters (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_547_hb0564e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0564e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0564t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0564f.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_547_hb0564e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0564e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0564t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0564f.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-HB0564-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).