# Maryland SB 0423: Research Facilities and Testing Facilities That Use Animals - Prohibitions and Adoption Requirements (Animal Research Modernization and Best Practices Act of 2026)

Maryland SB 0423, Research Facilities and Testing Facilities That Use Animals - Prohibitions and Adoption Requirements (Animal Research Modernization and Best Practices Act of 2026), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Benjamin F. Kramer (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 230) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0423-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0423
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Research Facilities and Testing Facilities That Use Animals - Prohibitions and Adoption Requirements (Animal Research Modernization and Best Practices Act of 2026)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-30
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 230
- Sponsor: Benjamin F. Kramer (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Agriculture, Adoption - see also- FamLaw; FosterCare; ParentsGuardians, Agriculture, Department of, Agriculture -see also- Agritourism; Cannabis Prd; Farm; etc., Animals -see also- Birds; Dogs; Domestic An; Horses; Livestk, Animal Shelters and Rescues, Associations -see also- Cooperative Associations, Biotechnology, Chemical Tests, Corporations -see also- Municipal Corps; Public Corps & Inst, Death -see also- Homicide; Murder; Wrongful Death, Dogs, Drugs -see also- Cannabis; ControlDangSubst; Pharm; etc., Education -see also- ContEd; DrvEd; HigherEd; etc., Electronic Government, Ethics, Fines -see also- Penalties and Sentences, Hazardous and Toxic Substances -see also- Asbestos; Radiatn, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Immunization, Internet -see also- Internet Access, Laboratories, Medical Conditions -see also- AIDS; COVID-19; rabies, Medical Equipment and Devices, Medical Research, Medical Testing and Diagnosis, Medical Treatments, Partnerships, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Reports, Scientific Research -see also- ChemTst; MedRsrch; Studies, Standards and Best Practices, Time, Veterinarians, Waivers
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (167 yes, 13 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Adoption paths for research dogs and cats: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland research and testing facilities must take reasonable steps to arrange adoption for eligible dogs and cats. The facility must find the animal is no longer needed for scientific research, and an attending veterinarian must approve adoption. Facilities must set up p…
- Fewer animal tests when alternatives are approved: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland testing facilities cannot use live-animal tests when the responsible agency approves an alternative or makes a waiver available. This also applies when the agency grants a waiver, but the restriction does not cover medical research. An alternative uses no live an…
- New protections for research dogs and cats: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland research and testing facilities cannot perform surgery to silence dogs or cats. They also cannot use dogs or cats that have undergone that surgery. Euthanasia must follow the most current American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines. A licensed veterinarian…
- Animal facilities face reporting rules and fines: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland's rules cover public and private testing entities and facilities using live vertebrate animals for research, education, or experiments. Entities providing only beneficial animal services are excluded; schools and colleges are excluded from the testing-facility de…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Benjamin F. Kramer (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 122 | 13 | 5 |
| 2026-03-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 |   |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 230
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (122-13) (House)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-20: Referred Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-19: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Favorable with Amendments {193225/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_230_sb0423t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0423t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-30: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0423f.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_230_sb0423t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0423t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0423f.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-SB0423-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).