# Maryland SB 0360: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against

Maryland SB 0360, Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Shaneka Henson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 401); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0360-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0360
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 401
- Sponsor: Shaneka Henson (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Death -see also- Homicide; Murder; Wrongful Death, Defendants, 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 (225 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Defenses in emergency animal cases: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, a person charged under these rules can claim necessity or self‑defense. There is also an affirmative defense if the person reasonably acted to stop physical harm under Maryland’s use‑of‑force law.
- Stronger penalties for harming police and rescue animals: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law protects police and search‑and‑rescue animals on duty. It makes it a crime to intentionally harass or interfere with them, to injure them, or to kill or cause serious physical injury. Penalties are up to 1 year in jail or a $5,000 fine. If done during another crim…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Shaneka Henson (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nick Charles (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sara Love (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike McKay (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: William C. Smith (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jeff Waldstreicher (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Chris West (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 136 | 0 | 4 |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 46 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 |   |

## Actions (20)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 401
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (46-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (136-0) (House)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {563229/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing 4/02 at 2:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-03-26: Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-06: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-05: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable with Amendments {603821/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing canceled (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_401_sb0360e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0360e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0360t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-23: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0360f.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_401_sb0360e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0360e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0360t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0360f.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-SB0360-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).