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*hb0912*
HOUSE BILL 912
L6, E1, M4 6lr1948
CF SB 750
By: Delegates Guyton, Palakovich Carr, Ruth and Terrasa , Terrasa, Healey,
Lewis, and Ziegler
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 9, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Local Government – Trap–Neuter–Return Policies for Community Cats – 2
Requirements and Restrictions 3
(Ash’s Law) 4
FOR the purpose of establishing that a certain prohibition against abandoning certain 5
provisions of law prohibiting the abandonment or certain neglect of an animal does 6
do not apply to a person who is providing care to a community cat under a certain 7
trap–neuter–return policy; establishing that a local law that establishes a 8
trap–neuter–return policy is subject to certain requirements and restrictions; and 9
generally relating to trap–neuter–return policies for community cats. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Criminal Law 12
Section 10–604 and 10–612 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Local Government 17
Section 1–1321 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
2 HOUSE BILL 912
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Criminal Law 3
10–604. 4
(a) [A] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, A person may not: 5
(1) overdrive or overload an animal; 6
(2) deprive an animal of necessary sustenance; 7
(3) inflict unnecessary suffering or pain on an animal; 8
(4) cause, procure, or authorize an act prohibited under item (1), (2), or (3) 9
of this subsection; or 10
(5) if the person has charge or custody of an animal, as owner or otherwise, 11
unnecessarily fail to provide the animal with: 12
(i) nutritious food in sufficient quantity; 13
(ii) necessary veterinary care; 14
(iii) proper drink; 15
(iv) proper air; 16
(v) proper space; 17
(vi) proper shelter; or 18
(vii) proper protection from the weather. 19
(b) A PERSON WHO PROVIDES CARE TO A COMMUNITY CAT UNDER A 20
TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN POLICY IN ACC ORDANCE WITH § 1–1321 OF THE LOCAL 21
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE MAY NOT BE DEEMED AS HAVING CHARGE OR CUSTODY OF 22
THE COMMUNITY CAT UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(5) OF THIS SECTION. 23
(C) (1) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on 24
conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 25
or both. 26
(2) As a condition of sentencing, the court may order a defendant convicted 27
of violating this section to: 28
HOUSE BILL 912 3
(i) participate in and pay for psychological counseling; and 1
(ii) pay, in addition to any other fines and costs, all reasonable costs 2
incurred in removing, housing, treating, or euthanizing an animal confiscated from the 3
defendant. 4
(3) As a condition of probation, the court may prohibit a defendant from 5
owning, possessing, or residing with an animal. 6
10–612. 7
(a) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A PERSON WHO IS PROVIDING CARE 8
TO A COMMUNITY CAT U NDER A TRAP –NEUTER–RETURN POLICY IN ACC ORDANCE 9
WITH § 1–1321 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 10
(B) A person who owns, possesses, or has custody of a domestic animal may not 11
drop or leave the animal on a road, in a public place, or on private property with the intent 12
to abandon the animal. 13
[(b)] (C) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on 14
conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100. 15
Article – Local Government 16
1–1321. 17
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 18
INDICATED. 19
(2) (I) “COMMUNITY CAT ” MEANS A FREE –ROAMING CAT THAT 20
MAY BE CARED FOR BY ONE OR MORE RESIDENTS OF THE IMMEDIATE AREA WITHIN 21
WHICH THE CAT IS LOCATED. 22
(II) “COMMUNITY CAT” INCLUDES A FERAL CAT. 23
(3) (I) “COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIV ER” MEANS A PERSON WHO 24
PROVIDES CARE TO A C OMMUNITY CAT, INCLUDING FOOD, SHELTER, OR MEDICAL 25
CARE, UNDER A TRAP –NEUTER–RETURN POLICY IN ACC ORDANCE WITH THIS 26
SECTION. 27
(II) “COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIV ER” DOES NOT INCLUDE A 28
PERSON WHO IS CONSID ERED THE OWNER , HARBORER, CONTROLLER, OR KEEPER 29
OF A COMMUNITY CAT. 30
4 HOUSE BILL 912
(4) “EARTIP” MEANS A PROCEDURE THAT: 1
(I) REMOVES THE DISTAL ONE–QUARTER OF THE LEFT EAR OF 2
A COMMUNITY CAT; 3
(II) IS PERFORMED USING A NESTHESIA UNDER THE 4
SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED VETERINARIAN; AND 5
(III) IS DESIGNED TO IDENT IFY A COMMUNITY CAT AS BEING 6
STERILIZED AND VACCINATED FOR RABIES. 7
(5) (I) “TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN” MEANS TO HUMANELY TR AP, 8
STERILIZE, VACCINATE FOR RABIES , EARTIP, AND RETURN A COMMUNI TY CAT TO 9
THE LOCATION WHERE THE CAT WAS ORIGINALLY TRAPPED. 10
(II) “TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN” INCLUDES PROVIDING C ARE TO 11
A COMMUNITY CAT. 12
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO ALL COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES. 13
(C) A LOCAL LAW THAT ESTABLISHES A TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN POLICY: 14
(1) MAY NOT REQUIRE ANY REGISTRATION OR CERT IFICATION 15
PROCESS FOR A COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER; 16
(2) SHALL AUTHORIZE THE TRAPPING OF A COMMUNITY CAT TO 17
STERILIZE, VACCINATE FOR RABIES , AND EARTIP THE COMMU NITY CAT IN 18
ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL OR STATE LAW; 19
(3) SHALL AUTHORIZE A CO MMUNITY CAT CAREGIVE R TO RECLAIM 20
AN IMPOUNDED COMMUNI TY CAT WITHOUT PROOF OF OWNERSHIP FOR THE 21
PURPOSE OF: 22
(I) CARRYING OUT A TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN POLICY; OR 23
(II) RETURNING AN EARTIPPED CAT TO THE LOCATI ON WHERE 24
THE CAT WAS ORIGINALLY TRAPPED; 25
(4) UNLESS VETERINARY CA RE IS REQUIRED OR A LOCATION IS 26
DEEMED UNSAFE FOR RETURN OF AN EARTIPPED CAT, SHALL REQUIRE THAT: 27
(I) AN EARTIPPED CAT THAT IS RECEIVED BY A LOCAL SHELTER 28
BE RETURNED TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE CAT WAS ORIGINALLY TRAPPED; AND 29
HOUSE BILL 912 5
(II) AN EARTIPPED CAT THA T IS TRAPPED BE RETU RNED 1
ON–SITE; AND 2
(5) SHALL ESTABLISH TRAP –NEUTER–RETURN AS TH E PREFERRED 3
DISPOSITION OF AN IMPOUNDED COMMUNITY CAT. 4
(D) THIS SECTION SUPERSED ES AND PREEMPTS ANY LAW, ORDINANCE, 5
POLICY, OR REGULATION OF ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODY, AND ANY POLICY OR 6
RULE OF ANY PERSON O R CORPORATION , THAT PROHIBITS OR RE STRICTS THE 7
PRACTICE OF TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2026. 10
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.