Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB536 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb0536
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 536
8	8	M4 5lr1395
9	9	SB 761/24 – EEE
10	10	By: Senator Kramer
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
12	12	Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Research Facilities and Testing Facilities That Use Animals – Regulation 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of establishing requirements for the use and treatment of dogs or cats by 3
21	21	a research facility or testing facility; prohibiting a research facility and testing 4
22	22	facility from using certain dogs and cats for research or testing purposes and 5
23	23	performing certain procedures on dogs or cats; prohibiting a research facility and 6
24	24	testing facility from using traditional animal test methods under certain 7
25	25	circumstances; prohibiting a research facility and testing facility from conducting a 8
26	26	canine or feline toxicological experiment under certain circumstances; applying 9
27	27	certain provisions of law regarding the adoption of dogs and cats used for scientific 10
28	28	research purposes to testing facilities; and generally relating to research facilities 11
29	29	and testing facilities that use animals in research, education, or testing. 12
30	30
31	31	BY adding to 13
32	32	Article – Agriculture 14
33	33	Section 15–101 through 15–103 and 15–105 through 15–107 15
34	34	Annotated Code of Maryland 16
35	35	(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
36	36
37	37	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
38	38	Article – Agriculture 19
39	39	Section 15–101 to be under the amended title “Title 15. Research Facilities and 20
40	40	Testing Facilities That Use Animals” 21
41	41	Annotated Code of Maryland 22
42	42	(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 23
43	43
44	44	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 24
45	45	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 25
46	46
47	47	Article – Agriculture 26
48	48	2 SENATE BILL 536
49	49
50	50
51	51	Title 15. Research Facilities [that] AND TESTING FACILITIES THAT Use [Dogs or Cats] 1
52	52	ANIMALS. 2
53	53
54	54	15–101. 3
55	55
56	56	(A) IN THIS TITLE THE FOL LOWING WORDS HAVE TH E MEANINGS 4
57	57	INDICATED. 5
58	58
59	59	(B) (1) “ALTERNATIVE TEST METH OD” MEANS A TEST METHOD , 6
60	60	INCLUDING A NEW OR R EVISED METHOD , THAT: 7
61	61
62	62	(I) DOES NOT USE ANIMALS ; 8
63	63
64	64	(II) PRODUCES INFORMATION OF EQUIVALENT OR BET TER 9
65	65	SCIENTIFIC QUALITY A ND RELEVANCE COMPARE D TO TRADITIONAL ANI MAL TEST 10
66	66	METHODS; AND 11
67	67
68	68	(III) HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED A ND ACCEPTED FOR USE BY THE 12
69	69	FEDERAL AGENCY OR PR OGRAM WITHIN THE FEDERAL A GENCY RESPONSIBLE FO R 13
70	70	REGULATING THE SPECI FIC PRODUCT OR ACTIV ITY FOR WHICH THE TE ST IS BEING 14
71	71	CONDUCTED . 15
72	72
73	73	(2) “ALTERNATIVE TEST METH OD” INCLUDES: 16
74	74
75	75	(I) COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOL OGY AND BIOINFORMATI CS; 17
76	76
77	77	(II) HIGH–THROUGHPUT SCREENING METHODS; 18
78	78
79	79	(III) TESTING CATEGORIES OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES ; 19
80	80
81	81	(IV) TIERED TESTING METHOD S; 20
82	82
83	83	(V) IN VITRO STUDIES; AND 21
84	84
85	85	(VI) SYSTEMS BIOLOGY . 22
86	86
87	87	(C) (1) “BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ” MEANS: 23
88	88
89	89	(I) THE INVESTIGATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL PROCE SSES AND 24
90	90	CAUSES OF DISEASE; OR 25
91	91	SENATE BILL 536 3
92	92
93	93
94	94	(II) RESEARCH CONDUCTED TO INCREASE FUNDAMENTAL 1
95	95	SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND EXPAND THE UNDER STANDING OF HOW PROC ESSES IN 2
96	96	LIVING ORGANISMS DEV ELOP AND FUNCTION . 3
97	97
98	98	(2) “BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ” DOES NOT INCLUDE TES TING DONE TO 4
99	99	ASSESS THE SAFETY O R EFFICACY OF: 5
100	100
101	101	(I) CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES ; 6
102	102
103	103	(II) INGREDIENTS ; 7
104	104
105	105	(III) DRUGS; 8
106	106
107	107	(IV) VACCINES; 9
108	108
109	109	(V) PRODUCTS; OR 10
110	110
111	111	(VI) PRODUCT FORMULATIONS . 11
112	112
113	113	(D) “CANINE OR FELINE TOXI COLOGICAL EXPERIMENT ” MEANS A TEST OR 12
114	114	STUDY USED TO DETERM INE THE EFFECT OF THE APPLICATION O R EXPOSURE , 13
115	115	WHETHER INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL AND INCLUDI NG ORAL INGESTION , SKIN OR EYE 14
116	116	CONTACT, AND INHALATION , OF ANY AMOUNT OF A C HEMICAL SUBSTANCE ON A DOG 15
117	117	OR CAT. 16
118	118
119	119	(E) “CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE ” MEANS ANY ORGANIC OR INORGANIC 17
120	120	SUBSTANCE INCLU DING: 18
121	121
122	122	(1) A DRUG AS DEFINED IN 21 U.S.C. § 321(G); 19
123	123
124	124	(2) A PESTICIDE AS DEFINED IN 7 U.S.C. § 136(U); 20
125	125
126	126	(3) A CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE A S DEFINED IN 15 U.S.C. § 2602(2); AND 21
127	127
128	128	(4) A FOOD ADDITIVE AS DEF INED IN 21 U.S.C. § 321(S). 22
129	129
130	130	(F) (1) “RESEARCH FACILI TY” MEANS ANY FACILITY I N THE STATE THAT 23
131	131	USES ANIMALS FOR RESEARCH , EDUCATION, OR EXPERIMENTATION . 24
132	132
133	133	(2) “RESEARCH FACILITY ” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 25
134	134
135	135	(I) A PARTNERSHIP , A CORPORATION , AN ASSOCIATION , AN 26
136	136	INSTITUTION, AN ORGANIZATION , OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN THE STATE THAT 27 4 SENATE BILL 536
137	137
138	138
139	139	PROVIDES ONLY BENEFI CIAL SERVICES TO AN ANIMAL SUCH AS SPAYI NG AND 1
140	140	NEUTERING; OR 2
141	141
142	142	(II) A SCHOOL OR AN INSTITU TION OF HIGHER EDUCA TION. 3
143	143
144	144	(G) (1) “TESTING FACILITY ” MEANS A PUBLIC OR PR IVATE 4
145	145	PARTNERSHIP , CORPORATION , ASSOCIATION, ORGANIZATION , OR ANY OTHER 5
146	146	ENTITY IN THE STATE THAT USES ANIMA LS FOR THE TESTING O F: 6
147	147
148	148	(I) CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES ; 7
149	149
150	150	(II) INGREDIENTS ; 8
151	151
152	152	(III) DRUGS; 9
153	153
154	154	(IV) VACCINES; 10
155	155
156	156	(V) PRODUCTS; OR 11
157	157
158	158	(VI) PRODUCT FORMULATIONS . 12
159	159
160	160	(2) “TESTING FACILITY ” INCLUDES A PARTNERSH IP, A 13
161	161	CORPORATION , AN ASSOCIATION , AN ORGANIZATION , OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN THE 14
162	162	STATE THAT IS OWNED , LEASED, OR OPERATED BY A PUB LIC OR PRIVATE ENTIT Y. 15
163	163
164	164	(3) “TESTING FACILITY” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 16
165	165
166	166	(I) A PARTNERSHIP , A CORPORATION , AN ASSOCIATION , AN 17
167	167	INSTITUTION, AN ORGANIZATION , OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN THE STATE THAT 18
168	168	PROVIDES ONLY BENEFI CIAL SERVICES TO AN ANIMAL SUCH AS SPAYI NG AND 19
169	169	NEUTERING; OR 20
170	170
171	171	(II) A SCHOOL OR AN INSTITU TION OF HIGHER EDUCA TION. 21
172	172
173	173	(H) “TRADITIONAL ANIMAL TE ST METHOD ” MEANS A PROCESS , AN 22
174	174	EXPERIMENT , OR A PROCEDURE THAT : 23
175	175
176	176	(1) USES ANIMALS TO OBTAI N INFORMATION ON THE 24
177	177	CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE , AN INGREDIENT , A DRUG, A 25
178	178	VACCINE, A PRODUCT FORMULATIO N, OR A PRODUCT ; AND 26
179	179
180	180	(2) GENERATES INFORMATION REGARDING THE ABILIT Y OF THE 27
181	181	CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE , INGREDIENT, DRUG, VACCINE, PRODUCT FORMULATION , OR 28 SENATE BILL 536 5
182	182
183	183
184	184	PRODUCT TO PRODUCE A SPECIFIC BIOLOGICAL EFFECT UNDER SPECIFI ED 1
185	185	CONDITIONS. 2
186	186
187	187	15–102. 3
188	188
189	189	(A) EACH RESEARCH FACILITY AND TESTING FACILITY SHA LL ENSURE THAT 4
190	190	THE NUMBER OF DOGS A ND CATS USED FOR RES EARCH OR TESTING PUR POSES NOT 5
191	191	OTHERWISE PROHIBITED UNDER THIS TITLE IS REDUCED TO THE SMALL EST 6
192	192	NUMBER POSSIBLE BY U SING SCIENTIFICAL LY RELIABLE AND RELE VANT METHODS 7
193	193	THAT DO NOT INVOLVE THE USE OF DOGS OR C ATS. 8
194	194
195	195	(B) A RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY MAY NOT USE FOR 9
196	196	RESEARCH OR TESTING PURPOSES: 10
197	197
198	198	(1) A DOG SOLD BY A CLASS B DEALER LICENSED UNDE R THE 11
199	199	FEDERAL ANIMAL WELFARE ACT; 12
200	200
201	201	(2) A DOG OR CAT OBTAINED FROM A PERSON THAT D ID NOT BREED 13
202	202	AND RAISE THE DOG OR CAT, INCLUDING A DOG OR C AT OBTAINED FROM AN 14
203	203	AUCTION, A FLEA MARKET , OR AN ANIMAL SHELTER ; OR 15
204	204
205	205	(3) A DOG OR CAT THAT HAS UNDERGONE A DEVOCALI ZATION 16
206	206	SURGERY. 17
207	207
208	208	(C) A RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY MAY NOT PERFORM A 18
209	209	DEVOCALIZATION SURGE RY ON A DOG OR CAT . 19
210	210
211	211	(D) A DOG OR CAT AT A RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY MAY BE 20
212	212	EUTHANIZED ONLY BY A LETHAL INJECTION OF SODIUM PENTOBARBITAL 21
213	213	ADMINISTERED : 22
214	214
215	215	(1) BY A VETERINARI AN LICENSED IN THE STATE; OR 23
216	216
217	217	(2) UNDER THE DIRECT SUPE RVISION OF A VETERIN ARIAN LICENSED 24
218	218	IN THE STATE. 25
219	219
220	220	15–103. 26
221	221
222	222	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A RESEARCH 27
223	223	FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY MAY NOT USE A TRADITIONA L ANIMAL TEST 28
224	224	METHOD IF THE AGENCY RESPON SIBLE FOR REGULATING THE SPECIFIC PRODUCT 29
225	225	OR ACTIVITY FOR WHIC H A TEST METHOD IS B EING USED HAS: 30
226	226	6 SENATE BILL 536
227	227
228	228
229	229	(I) APPROVED AN ALTERNATI VE TEST METHOD ; OR 1
230	230
231	231	(II) GRANTED THE RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY 2
232	232	A WAIVER FROM USING A TRADITIONA L ANIMAL TEST METHOD . 3
233	233
234	234	(2) IF THERE IS NO ALTERN ATIVE TEST METHOD AV AILABLE OR 4
235	235	WAIVER GRANTED , A RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY MAY USE A 5
236	236	TRADITIONAL ANIMAL T EST METHOD IF THE RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING 6
237	237	FACILITY USES THE FE WEST NUMBER OF ANIMA LS POSSIBLE AND MINIMIZ ES THE 7
238	238	LEVEL OF PAIN, SUFFERING, AND STRESS OF AN ANI MAL USED FOR TESTING . 8
239	239
240	240	(3) NOTHING IN THIS SUBSE CTION MAY BE CONSTRU ED TO PROHIBIT 9
241	241	THE USE OF A TRADITI ONAL ANIMAL TEST MET HOD TO COMPLY WITH F EDERAL OR 10
242	242	STATE REQUIREMENTS IF THE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL O R STATE AGENCY HAS 11
243	243	APPROVED THE USE OF AN ALTERNATIVE TEST METHOD BUT DETERMINE D THAT 12
244	244	THE ALTERNATIVE TEST METHOD DOES NOT ENSU RE THE HEALTH OR SAF ETY OF 13
245	245	THE PUBLIC OR THE EN VIRONMENT. 14
246	246
247	247	(B) (1) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO BIOMEDI CAL RESEARCH . 15
248	248
249	249	(2) A RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY MAY NOT CONDUCT 16
250	250	A CANINE OR FELINE T OXICOLOGICAL EXPERIM ENT IN THE STATE FOR DISCOVERY , 17
251	251	APPROVAL, MAINTENANCE OF APPRO VAL, NOTIFICATION, REGISTRATION , OR 18
252	252	MAINTENANCE OF A CHE MICAL SUBSTANCE UNLE SS THE CANINE OR FELI NE 19
253	253	TOXICOLOGICAL EXPERI MENT IS CONDUCTED TO : 20
254	254
255	255	(I) SATISFY AN EXPRESS RE QUIREMENT IMPOSED BY THE U.S. 21
256	256	ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY UNDER THE AUTH ORITY OF THE FEDERAL 22
257	257	INSECTICIDE, FUNGICIDE, AND RODENTICIDE ACT OR THE FEDERAL TOXIC 23
258	258	SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT; 24
259	259
260	260	(II) SATISFY AN EXPRESS RE QUIREMENT IMPOSED BY THE U.S. 25
261	261	FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE FEDERAL 26
262	262	FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT IF THE RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING 27
263	263	FACILITY: 28
264	264
265	265	1. SUBMITS A PRE –INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG 29
266	266	APPLICATION MEETING REQUEST TO THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION 30
267	267	TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE ON WHETHER ALL PROPO SED CANINE OR FELINE 31
268	268	TOXICOLOGICAL EXPERI MENTS ARE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE RESEARCH 32
269	269	FACILITY’S OR TESTING FACILITY ’S PLANNED CLINICAL TRIALS; AND 33
270	270	SENATE BILL 536 7
271	271
272	272
273	273	2. IS NOT EXPRESSLY DIRE CTED BY THE U.S. FOOD AND 1
274	274	DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO USE AN ALTERNATIVE TEST METHOD; 2
275	275
276	276	(III) SUPPORT AN APPLICATIO N TO THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL 3
277	277	PROTECTION AGENCY FOR A WAIVER F ROM THE USE OF A CAN INE OR FELINE 4
278	278	TOXICOLOGICAL EXPERI MENT IF THE EXPERIME NT IS CONDUCTED SOLE LY FOR THE 5
279	279	PURPOSE OF REDUCING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ANIMALS NEEDED FOR 6
280	280	EXPERIMENTS TO ACHIE VE DISCOVERY , APPROVAL, MAINTENANCE OF APPRO VAL, 7
281	281	NOTIFICATION, REGISTRATION , OR MAINTENANCE OF A CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE; OR 8
282	282
283	283	(IV) DEVELOP, MANUFACTURE , OR MARKET A PRODUCT 9
284	284	INTENDED FOR THE BEN EFICIAL USE OF DOGS OR CATS. 10
285	285
286	286	[15–101.] 15–104. 11
287	287
288	288	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 12
289	289
290	290	(2) “Animal rescue organization” includes: 13
291	291
292	292	(i) A nonprofit organization incorporated for the purpose of rescuing 14
293	293	animals in need and finding permanent adoptive homes for the animals; and 15
294	294
295	295	(ii) A government–operated animal control unit that provides 16
296	296	animals for adoption. 17
297	297
298	298	(3) [“Research facility” includes: 18
299	299
300	300	(i) A higher education research facility; 19
301	301
302	302	(ii) A scientific research facility; 20
303	303
304	304	(iii) A medical research facility; and 21
305	305
306	306	(iv) A product testing facility. 22
307	307
308	308	(4)] “Scientific research purposes” includes: 23
309	309
310	310	(i) Investigation; 24
311	311
312	312	(ii) Experimentation; 25
313	313
314	314	(iii) Instruction; and 26
315	315
316	316	(iv) Testing. 27
317	317	8 SENATE BILL 536
318	318
319	319
320	320	(b) This section applies to a dog or cat that, in the determination of an attending 1
321	321	veterinarian, is suitable for adoption. 2
322	322
323	323	(c) A research facility OR TESTING FACILITY located in the State in which dogs 3
324	324	or cats are used for scientific research purposes shall take reasonable steps to provide for 4
325	325	the adoption of a dog or cat that, in the determination of the research facility OR TESTING 5
326	326	FACILITY, is no longer needed for scientific research purposes by: 6
327	327
328	328	(1) Establishing a private placement process to provide for the adoption of 7
329	329	a dog or cat; 8
330	330
331	331	(2) Establishing a list of animal rescue organizations that are approved by 9
332	332	the research facility OR TESTING FACILITY and are willing to take a dog or cat from the 10
333	333	research facility OR TESTING FACILITY ; and 11
334	334
335	335	(3) Offering the dog or cat to the animal rescue organizations identified in 12
336	336	the list established under item (2) of this subsection if the research facility OR TESTING 13
337	337	FACILITY is unable to place the dog or cat through its private placement process. 14
338	338
339	339	(d) A research facility OR TESTING FACILITY may enter into a collaborative 15
340	340	agreement with an animal rescue organization for the purpose of carrying out the 16
341	341	provisions of this section. 17
342	342
343	343	15–105. 18
344	344
345	345	(A) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31 EACH YEAR, EACH RESEARCH FACILITY 19
346	346	AND TESTING FACILITY SHA LL SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY THE FOLLOWI NG 20
347	347	INFORMATION REGARDIN G THE IMMEDIATELY PR ECEDING 12–MONTH PERIOD : 21
348	348
349	349	(1) THE NUMBER OF EACH SP ECIES OF ANIMALS OWN ED AND USED BY 22
350	350	THE RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY ; 23
351	351
352	352	(2) THE NUMBER OF DOGS OR CATS RELEASED TO ANI MAL RESCUE 24
353	353	ORGANIZATIONS UNDER § 15–104 OF THIS TITLE AND TH E NAMES OF THE ANIMA L 25
354	354	RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS TO WHICH THE DOGS OR CATS WERE RELEASED ; 26
355	355
356	356	(3) THE TYPE AND NUMBER O F ALTERNATIVE TEST M ETHODS AND 27
357	357	TRADITIONAL ANIMAL T EST METHODS USED ; 28
358	358
359	359	(4) THE NUMBER OF TRADITI ONAL ANIMAL TEST MET HOD WAIVERS 29
360	360	AND CANINE OR FELINE TOXICOLOGICAL EXPERI MENT WAIVERS USED ; AND 30
361	361
362	362	(5) THE PURPOSE OF ANY TE STS CONDUC TED USING ALTERNATIV E 31
363	363	TEST METHODS OR TRAD ITIONAL ANIMAL TEST METHODS. 32 SENATE BILL 536 9
364	364
365	365
366	366
367	367	(B) THE SECRETARY SHALL : 1
368	368
369	369	(1) PREPARE AN ANNUAL REP ORT AGGREGATING THE INFORMATION 2
370	370	SUBMITTED UNDER SUBS ECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION; AND 3
371	371
372	372	(2) POST THE ANNUAL REPOR T ON THE DEPARTMENT ’S WEBSITE. 4
373	373
374	374	15–106. 5
375	375
376	376	A RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY THA T VIOLATES THIS TITL E IS 6
377	377	SUBJECT TO: 7
378	378
379	379	(1) FOR A FIRST OFFENSE , A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $1,000; AND 8
380	380
381	381	(2) FOR A SECOND OR SUBSE QUENT OFFENSE , A FINE NOT 9
382	382	EXCEEDING $5,000. 10
383	383
384	384	15–107. 11
385	385
386	386	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO : 12
387	387
388	388	(1) CARRY OUT THIS TITLE ; AND 13
389	389
390	390	(2) ENSURE THE HUMANE TRE ATMENT AND CARE OF D OGS AND CATS 14
391	391	THAT ARE USED FOR RE SEARCH, EDUCATION, OR TESTING CONSISTEN T WITH THE 15
392	392	FEDERAL ANIMAL WELFARE ACT AND CORRESPONDING REGULATIONS. 16
393	393
394	394	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
395	395	October 1, 2025. 18
396	396