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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0750*
SENATE BILL 750
L6, E1, M4 6lr2129
CF HB 912
By: Senators Lewis Young, Kramer, and West
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
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 an animal 5
does not apply to a person who is providing care to a community cat under a certain 6
trap–neuter–return policy; establishing that a local law that establishes a 7
trap–neuter–return policy is subject to certain requirements and restrictions; and 8
generally relating to trap–neuter–return policies for community cats. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Criminal Law 11
Section 10–612 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
BY adding to 15
Article – Local Government 16
Section 1–1321 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
Article – Criminal Law 22
10–612. 23
2 SENATE BILL 750
(a) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A PERSON WHO IS PROVIDING CARE 1
TO A COMMUNITY CAT U NDER A TRAP –NEUTER–RETURN POLICY IN ACC ORDANCE 2
WITH § 1–1321 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 3
(B) A person who owns, possesses, or has custody of a domestic animal may not 4
drop or leave the animal on a road, in a public place, or on private property with the intent 5
to abandon the animal. 6
[(b)] (C) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misde meanor and on 7
conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100. 8
Article – Local Government 9
1–1321. 10
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 11
INDICATED. 12
(2) (I) “COMMUNITY CAT ” MEANS A FREE –ROAMING CAT THAT 13
MAY BE CARED FOR BY ONE OR MORE RESIDENTS OF THE IMMEDIATE AREA WITHIN 14
WHICH THE CAT IS LOCATED. 15
(II) “COMMUNITY CAT” INCLUDES A FERAL CAT. 16
(3) (I) “COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIV ER” MEANS A PERSON WHO 17
PROVIDES CARE TO A C OMMUNITY CAT, INCLUDING FOOD, SHELTER, OR MEDICAL 18
CARE, UNDER A TRAP –NEUTER–RETURN POLICY IN ACC ORDANCE WITH THIS 19
SECTION. 20
(II) “COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIV ER” DOES NOT INCLUDE A 21
PERSON WHO IS CONSID ERED THE OWNER , HARBORER, CONTROLLER, OR KEEPER 22
OF A COMMUNITY CAT. 23
(4) “EARTIP” MEANS A PROCEDURE THAT: 24
(I) REMOVES THE DISTAL ONE–QUARTER OF THE LEFT EAR OF 25
A COMMUNITY CAT; 26
(II) IS PERFORMED USING A NESTHESIA UNDER THE 27
SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED VETERINARIAN; AND 28
(III) IS DESIGNED TO IDENT IFY A COMMUNITY CAT AS BEING 29
STERILIZED AND VACCINATED FOR RABIES. 30
SENATE BILL 750 3
(5) (I) “TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN” MEANS TO HUMANELY TR AP, 1
STERILIZE, VACCINATE FOR RABIES , EARTIP, AND RETURN A COMMUNI TY CAT TO 2
THE LOCATION WHERE THE CAT WAS ORIGINALLY TRAPPED. 3
(II) “TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN” INCLUDES PROVIDING C ARE TO 4
A COMMUNITY CAT. 5
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO ALL COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES. 6
(C) A LOCAL LAW THAT ESTABLISHES A TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN POLICY: 7
(1) MAY NOT REQUIRE ANY REGISTRATION OR CERT IFICATION 8
PROCESS FOR A COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER; 9
(2) SHALL AUTHORIZE THE TRAPPING OF A COMMUNITY CAT T O 10
STERILIZE, VACCINATE FOR RABIES , AND EARTIP THE COMMU NITY CAT IN 11
ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL OR STATE LAW; 12
(3) SHALL AUTHORIZE A CO MMUNITY CAT CAREGIVE R TO RECLAIM 13
AN IMPOUNDED COMMUNI TY CAT WITHOUT PROOF OF OWNERSHIP FOR THE 14
PURPOSE OF: 15
(I) CARRYING OUT A TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN POLICY; OR 16
(II) RETURNING AN EARTIPPED CAT TO THE LOCATI ON WHERE 17
THE CAT WAS ORIGINALLY TRAPPED; 18
(4) UNLESS VETERINARY CARE IS REQUIRED, SHALL REQUIRE THAT: 19
(I) AN EARTIPPED CAT THAT IS RECEIVED BY A LOCAL SHELTER 20
BE RETURNED TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE CAT WAS ORIGINALLY TRAPPED; AND 21
(II) AN EARTIPPED CAT THA T IS TRAPPED BE RE TURNED 22
ON–SITE; AND 23
(5) SHALL ESTABLISH TRAP –NEUTER–RETURN AS THE PREFER RED 24
DISPOSITION OF AN IMPOUNDED COMMUNITY CAT. 25
(D) THIS SECTION SUPERSED ES AND PREEMPTS ANY LAW, ORDINANCE, 26
POLICY, OR REGULATION OF ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODY, AND ANY POLICY OR 27
RULE OF ANY PERSON O R CORPORATION , THAT PROHIBITS OR RE STRICTS THE 28
PRACTICE OF TRAP–NEUTER–RETURN. 29
4 SENATE BILL 750
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FU RTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2026. 2