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

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0423*

SENATE BILL 423
M4 6lr1581
SB 536/25 – EEE CF HB 666
By: Senator Kramer
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 2, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Research Facilities and Testing Facilities That Use Animals – Prohibitions and 2
Adoption Requirements 3
(Animal Research Modernization and Best Practices Act of 2026) 4

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a research facility or testing facility from using certain dogs 5
and cats for research or testing purposes; prohibiting a research facility or test ing 6
facility from performing certain procedures on dogs or cats; prohibiting a testing 7
facility from using traditional animal test methods under certain circumstances; 8
applying certain provisions of law regarding the adoption of dogs and cats used for 9
scientific research purposes to testing facilities; and generally relating to research 10
facilities and testing facilities that use animals in research, education, or testing. 11

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Agriculture 13
Section 15 –101 to be under the amended title “Title 15. Research Facilities and 14
Testing Facilities That Use Animals” 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17

BY adding to 18
Article – Agriculture 19
Section 15–101 through 15–103, 15–105, and 15–106 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 22

2 SENATE BILL 423

Preamble 1

WHEREAS, Scientific research and medical innovation are essential to protecting 2
public health and advancing knowledge; and 3

WHEREAS, The State has a compelling interest in ensuring that scientific research 4
and medical innovation are conducted in a manner that is ethical, responsible, and 5
consistent with evolving scientific standards; and 6

WHEREAS, Advances in technology and methodology have increasing ly made 7
reducing, refining, or replacing the use of live animals in laboratory testing a possibility; 8
and 9

WHEREAS, The unnecessary or excessive use of animals in research undermines 10
public confidence and fails to reflect best practices in modern science; and 11

WHEREAS, It is the policy of the State to require that animal testing be employed 12
only when scientifically justified and when no reasonably available alternative methods 13
exist; and 14

WHEREAS, When animal testing is necessary, it should be conducted using the 15
minimum number of animals required and adhere to standards that prioritize humane 16
treatment and oversight; and 17

WHEREAS, Establishing clear statutory standards for the necessity, minimization, 18
and review of animal laboratory testing will promote scientific integrity, ethical 19
responsibility, and public trust; now, therefore, 20

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 21
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 22

Article – Agriculture 23

Title 15. Research Facilities [that] AND TESTING FACILITIES THAT Use [Dogs or Cats] 24
ANIMALS. 25

15–101. 26

(A) IN THIS TITLE THE FOL LOWING WORDS HAVE TH E MEANINGS 27
INDICATED. 28

(B) (1) “ALTERNATIVE TEST METH OD” MEANS A TEST METHOD , 29
INCLUDING A NEW OR REVISED METHOD, THAT: 30

(I) DOES NOT USE LIVE VERTEBRATE ANIMALS; 31

SENATE BILL 423 3

(II) PRODUCES INFORMATION OF EQUIVALENT OR BET TER 1
SCIENTIFIC QUALITY A ND RELEVANCE COMPARE D TO TRADITIONAL ANI MAL TEST 2
METHODS; AND 3

(III) HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED A ND ACCEPTED FOR USE BY THE 4
FEDERAL AGENCY OR PROGRAM WITHIN THE FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR 5
REGULATING THE SPECIFIC PRODUCT OR ACTIVITY FOR WHICH THE TEST IS BEING 6
CONDUCTED. 7

(2) “ALTERNATIVE TEST METHOD” INCLUDES: 8

(I) COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS; 9

(II) HIGH–THROUGHPUT SCREENING METHODS; 10

(III) TESTING CATEGORIES OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES; 11

(IV) TIERED TESTING METHODS; 12

(V) IN VITRO STUDIES; AND 13

(VI) SYSTEMS BIOLOGY. 14

(C) (1) “BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH” MEANS: 15

(I) THE INVESTIGATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND 16
CAUSES OF DISEASE; OR 17

(II) RESEARCH CONDUCTED TO INCREASE FUNDAMENTAL 18
SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND EXPAND THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW PROCESSES IN 19
LIVING ORGANISMS DEVELOP AND FUNCTION. 20

(2) “BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH” DOES NOT INCLUDE TESTING DONE TO 21
ASSESS THE SAFETY OR EFFICACY OF: 22

(I) CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES; 23

(II) INGREDIENTS; 24

(III) DRUGS; 25

(IV) VACCINES; 26

4 SENATE BILL 423

(V) PRODUCTS; OR 1

(VI) PRODUCT FORMULATIONS. 2

(D) (C) “CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE ” MEANS ANY ORGANIC OR INORGANIC 3
SUBSTANCE INCLUDING: 4

(1) A DRUG, AS DEFINED IN 21 U.S.C. § 321(G); 5

(2) (1) A PESTICIDE, AS DEFINED IN 7 U.S.C. § 136(U); 6

(3) (2) A CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE , AS DEFINED IN 15 U.S.C. § 7
2602(2); AND 8

(4) (3) A FOOD ADDITIVE, AS DEFINED IN 21 U.S.C. § 321(S). 9

(D) (1) “MEDICAL RESEARCH” MEANS RESEARCH RELATED TO: 10

(I) THE CAUSES , DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, CONTROL, OR 11
PREVENTION OF PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISEASE S OR IMPAIRMENT IN H UMANS OR 12
ANIMALS; OR 13

(II) THE DEVELOPMENT OF BI OMEDICAL PRODUCTS, MEDICAL 14
DEVICES, OR DRUGS AS DEFINED IN 21 U.S.C. § 321(G). 15

(2) “MEDICAL RESEARCH” DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TESTING OF AN 16
INGREDIENT THAT WAS FORMERLY USED AS A D RUG AND THAT IS NOW PROPOSED 17
FOR USE IN A PRODUCT OTHER THAN A BIOMEDI CAL PRODUCT, MEDICAL DEVICE, 18
OR DRUG. 19

(E) (1) “RESEARCH FACILITY” MEANS ANY FACILITY IN THE STATE THAT 20
USES LIVE VERTEBRATE ANIMALS FOR RESEARCH , EDUCATION, OR 21
EXPERIMENTATION. 22

(2) “RESEARCH FACILITY ” DOES NOT INCLUDE A P ARTNERSHIP, A 23
CORPORATION, AN ASSOCIATION , AN INSTITUTION , AN ORGANIZATION , OR A NY 24
OTHER ENTITY IN THE STATE THAT PROVIDES O NLY BENEFICIAL SERVICES TO AN 25
ANIMAL SUCH AS SPAYING AND NEUTERING. 26

(F) (1) “TESTING FACILITY ” MEANS A PUBLIC OR PR IVATE 27
PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, ORGANIZATION, OR ANY OTHER 28
ENTITY IN THE STATE THAT USES LIVE VERTEBRATE ANIMALS FOR THE TESTING OF: 29

(I) CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES; 30
SENATE BILL 423 5

(II) INGREDIENTS; 1

(III) DRUGS; 2

(IV) VACCINES; 3

(V) (III) PRODUCTS; OR 4

(VI) (IV) PRODUCT FORMULATIONS. 5

(2) “TESTING FACILITY ” INCLUDES A PARTNERSH IP, A 6
CORPORATION, AN ASSOCIATION, AN ORGANIZATION, OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN THE 7
STATE THAT IS OWNED, LEASED, OR OPERATED BY A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ENTITY. 8

(3) “TESTING FACILITY” DOES NOT INCLUDE: 9

(I) A PARTNERSHIP, A CORPORATION , AN ASSOCIATION , AN 10
INSTITUTION, AN ORGANIZATION , OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN THE STATE THAT 11
PROVIDES ONLY BENEFI CIAL SERVICES TO AN ANIMAL SUCH AS SPAYI NG AND 12
NEUTERING; OR 13

(II) A SCHOOL OR AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. 14

(G) “TRADITIONAL ANIMAL TE ST METHOD ” MEANS A PROCESS , AN 15
EXPERIMENT, OR A PROCEDURE THAT: 16

(1) USES LIVE VERTEBRATE ANIMALS TO OBTAIN IN FORMATION ON 17
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHEMICAL SUBSTA NCE, AN INGREDIENT, A DRUG , A 18
VACCINE, A PRODUCT FORMULATION, OR A PRODUCT; AND 19

(2) GENERATES INFORMATION REGARDING THE ABILITY OF THE 20
CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE, INGREDIENT, DRUG, VACCINE, PRODUCT FORMULATION, OR 21
PRODUCT TO PRODUCE A SPECIFIC BIOLOGICAL EFFECT UNDER SPECIFI ED 22
CONDITIONS. 23

15–102. 24

(A) A RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY MAY NOT USE A DOG OR 25
CAT THAT HAS UNDER GONE A DEVOCALIZATIO N SURGERY FOR RESEAR CH OR 26
TESTING PURPOSES. 27

6 SENATE BILL 423

(B) A RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY MAY NOT PERFORM A 1
DEVOCALIZATION SURGERY ON A DOG OR CAT. 2

(C) A DOG OR CAT AT A RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY MAY BE 3
EUTHANIZED ONLY BY A LETHAL INJECTION O F SODIUM PENTOBARBIT AL 4
ADMINISTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HE MOST CURRENT AMERICAN 5
VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION GUIDELINES FOR THE EUTHANASIA OF 6
ANIMALS: 7

(1) BY A VETERINARIAN LICENSED IN THE STATE; OR 8

(2) UNDER THE DIRECT OR INDIRECT SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED 9
VETERINARIAN LICENSED IN THE STATE. 10

15–103. 11

(A) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO BIOMEDICAL MEDICAL RESEARCH. 12

(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A TESTING 13
FACILITY MAY NOT USE A TRADITIONAL ANIMAL TEST METHOD IF THE A GENCY 14
RESPONSIBLE FOR REGULATING THE SPECIFIC PRODUCT OR ACTIVITY FOR WHICH 15
A TEST METHOD IS BEING USED HAS: 16

(I) APPROVED AN ALTERNATIVE TEST METHOD; OR 17

(II) MADE AVAILABLE TO OR GRANTED THE TESTING FACILITY 18
A WAIVER FROM USING A TRADITIONAL ANIMAL TEST METHOD. 19

(2) IF THERE IS NO ALTERN ATIVE TEST METHOD AV AILABLE OR 20
WAIVER MADE AVAILABL E OR GRANTED , A TESTING FACILITY M AY USE A 21
TRADITIONAL ANIMAL TEST METHOD IF THE TE STING FACILITY USES THE FEWEST 22
NUMBER OF ANIMALS PO SSIBLE AND MINIMIZES THE LEVE L OF PAIN , SUFFERING, 23
AND STRESS OF AN ANIMAL USED FOR TESTING. 24

(3) NOTHING IN THIS SUBSECTION MAY BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT: 25

(I) THE USE OF A TRADITIO NAL ANIMAL TEST METH OD TO 26
COMPLY WITH FEDERAL OR STATE REQUIREMENTS IF THE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL 27
OR STATE AGENCY HAS APPROVED THE USE OF AN ALTERNATIVE TEST METHOD BUT 28
DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATIVE TEST MET HOD DOES NOT ENSURE THE 29
HEALTH OR SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC OR THE ENVIRONMENT; OR 30

SENATE BILL 423 7

(II) THE CONTINUED USE OF A TRADITIONAL ANIMAL TEST 1
METHOD THAT: 2

1. WAS INITIATED: 3

A. BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2026; OR 4

B. WITHIN 180 DAYS AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2026, 5
FOLLOWING AGENCY APPROVAL OF AN ALTERNATIVE TEST METHOD OR STRATEGY; 6
AND 7

2. IS USED ONLY TO COMPLETE THE TEST FOR WHICH IT 8
WAS STARTED. 9

[15–101.] 15–104. 10

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 11

(2) “Animal rescue organization” includes: 12

(i) A nonprofit organization incorporated for the purpose of rescuing 13
animals in need and finding permanent adoptive homes for the animals; and 14

(ii) A government –operated animal control unit that provides 15
animals for adoption. 16

(3) [“Research facility” includes: 17

(i) A higher education research facility; 18

(ii) A scientific research facility; 19

(iii) A medical research facility; and 20

(iv) A product testing facility. 21

(4)] “Scientific research purposes” includes: 22

(i) Investigation; 23

(ii) Experimentation; 24

(iii) Instruction; and 25

(iv) Testing. 26

8 SENATE BILL 423

(b) This section applies to a dog or cat that, in the determination of an attending 1
veterinarian, is suitable for adoption. 2

(c) A research facility OR TESTING FACILITY located in the State in which dogs 3
or cats are used for scientific research purposes shall take reasonable steps to prov ide for 4
the adoption of a dog or cat that, in the determination of the research facility OR TESTING 5
FACILITY, is no longer needed for scientific research purposes by: 6

(1) Establishing a private placement process to provide for the adoption of 7
a dog or cat; 8

(2) Establishing a list of animal rescue organizations that are approved by 9
the research facility OR TESTING FACILITY and are willing to take a dog or cat from the 10
research facility OR TESTING FACILITY; and 11

(3) Offering the dog or cat to the animal rescue organizations identified in 12
the list established under item (2) of this subsection if the research facility OR TESTING 13
FACILITY is unable to place the dog or cat through its private placement process. 14

(d) A research facility OR TESTING FACILITY may enter into a collaborative 15
agreement with an animal rescue organization for the purpose of carrying out the 16
provisions of this section. 17

15–105. 18

(A) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31 DECEMBER 1, 2028, AND EACH JANUARY 19
31 DECEMBER 1 THEREAFTER, EACH TESTING FACILIT Y SHALL SUBMIT TO TH E 20
SECRETARY THE FOLLOWI NG INFORMATION REGAR DING THE IMMEDIATELY 21
PRECEDING 12–MONTH PERIOD FISCAL YEAR: 22

(1) THE NUMBER OF EACH SPECIES OF ANIMALS OWNED AND USED BY 23
THE TESTING FACILITY; 24

(2) THE NUMBER OF DOGS OR CATS R ELEASED TO ANIMAL RE SCUE 25
ORGANIZATIONS UNDER § 15–104 OF THIS TITLE AND TH E NAMES OF THE ANIMA L 26
RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS TO WHICH THE DOGS OR CATS WERE RELEASED; 27

(3) THE TYPE AND NUMBER O F ALTERNATIVE TEST M ETHODS AND 28
TRADITIONAL ANIMAL TEST METHODS USED; 29

(4) THE NUMBER OF TRADITI ONAL ANIMAL TEST MET HOD WAIVERS 30
USED; AND 31

SENATE BILL 423 9

(5) THE PURPOSE OF ANY TE STS CONDUCTED USING ALTERNATIVE 1
TEST METHODS OR TRADITIONAL ANIMAL TEST METHODS. 2

(B) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31 DECEMBER 1, 2028, AND EACH JANUARY 3
31 DECEMBER 1 THEREAFTER, EACH RESEARCH FACILITY USING OR KEEPING DOGS 4
OR CATS SHALL SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY, FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING 5
12–MONTH PERIOD FISCAL YEAR , THE NUMBER OF DOGS O R CATS RELEASED TO 6
ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS UNDER § 15–104 OF THIS TITLE AND TH E NAMES 7
OF THE ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS TO WHI CH THE DOGS OR CATS WERE 8
RELEASED. 9

(C) THE SECRETARY SHALL: 10

(1) PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT AGGREGATING THE INFORMATION 11
SUBMITTED UNDER THIS SECTION IN AN ANONYMIZED MANNER; AND 12

(2) POST THE ANNUAL REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE. 13

(D) A REPORT MADE TO THE SECRETARY UNDER THIS SECTION IS NOT 14
SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE UNDER THE MARYLAND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT. 15

15–106. 16

A RESEARCH FACILITY OR TESTING FACILITY THAT VIOLATES THIS TITLE IS 17
SUBJECT TO: 18

(1) FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $1,000; AND 19

(2) FOR A SECOND OR SUBSE QUENT OFFENSE , A FINE NOT 20
EXCEEDING $5,000. 21

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 22
October 1, 2026. 23

Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.