Criminal Law – Nondomesticated Animal Prohibitions – Alterations
HB0053 amends Maryland’s criminal law governing the importation, sale, possession, breeding, and exchange of certain live nondomesticated animals. The bill expands the list of prohibited animals to include kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies, and zebras, while retaining the existing bans on animals such as foxes, skunks, raccoons, bears, crocodilians, non-domestic cats and dogs, nonhuman primates, and certain venomous snakes. It also updates the law’s exceptions and grandfathering provisions for certain preexisting lawful owners.
The bill narrows one travel-related exception by reducing the allowable time a nonresident may be in Maryland with covered animals from 10 days to 48 hours. It also updates the sanctuary exception by replacing a reference to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In addition, it creates a new grandfather clause for people who lawfully possessed kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies, or zebras on or before October 1, 2026, provided they notify local animal control by December 1, 2026. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB0053 would amend Section 10-621 of the Criminal Law Article, expanding the state’s prohibited list of nondomesticated animals and tightening certain exceptions. It affects owners, breeders, sellers, exhibitors, sanctuaries, veterinarians, animal control authorities, and nonresidents transporting covered animals through the state. The bill would also preserve limited continued possession for existing lawful owners of the newly added species if they comply with the notice requirement.
The available legislative history suggests the bill moved forward without recorded opposition in the provided materials: it received a favorable committee report and was adopted by the House. No vote breakdowns or hearing transcripts are included, so the record here indicates general support or at least no documented controversy in the supplied context. The bill’s framing as an animal-protection and public-safety measure likely contributed to that reception.
The main policy issue is the expansion of the prohibited species list to include kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies, and zebras, which could affect private exotic-animal owners and exhibitors. Another point of possible concern is the shortened nonresident travel exception, which may be viewed as limiting temporary transport through Maryland. The grandfathering provision and notice deadline may also be contentious for current owners of the newly covered animals, since continued lawful possession depends on timely compliance with local notification requirements.