Maryland2026Active
HB0053
Changes to Rules About Keeping Wild Animals in Maryland
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:24 AM
In one sentence
This law shortens the time non-residents can travel through Maryland with prohibited wild animals from ten days to forty-eight hours and removes an exception that allowed people with severe mobility disabilities to keep certain trained animals.
What it does
- It reduces the amount of time a person who does not live in Maryland may drive or ride through the state while carrying a prohibited animal from ten days down to forty-eight hours.
- It removes the exception that allowed people with severe mobility disabilities to keep certain trained wild animals for assistance purposes.
- It lists specific wild animals, such as foxes, bears, big cats, monkeys, kangaroos, and zebras, that cannot be imported, sold, traded, kept, bred, or exchanged starting October 1, 2026.
- It keeps rules allowing licensed researchers, zoos, animal sanctuaries, veterinarians, law enforcement officers, and circuses meeting specific safety requirements to handle these animals legally.
Who it affects
- People who live outside of Maryland but travel through the state with wild animals.
- Owners or handlers of foxes, skunks, raccoons, bears, alligators, big cats, monkeys, poisonous snakes, kangaroos, wallabies, zebras, and hybrids of dogs or cats.
Limits and unknowns
- People who legally owned certain listed animals before October 1, 2026, may keep them if they notify local authorities by December 1, 2026.
- The law does not specify penalties for breaking these rules.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Nondomesticated animals
- Wild animals listed in the law that are not common pets like domestic cats or dogs.
- Importing
- Bringing an animal into Maryland from another place.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Altering an exception to the prohibition against the possession of certain nondomesticated animals in the State by reducing from 10 days to 48 hours the amount of time a nonresident may travel through the State with an otherwise prohibited animal; repealing the exception to the prohibition against the possession by a person with certain disabilities of certain nondomesticated animals for a certain purpose; etc.
Official activity
Bill history
- In the Senate - Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m.