HB 912 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Local Government - Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats - Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law)

HB 912 (Ash’s Law) clarifies that people caring for free-roaming cats under a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program are not violating animal abandonment laws. It requires local governments to adopt TNR policies that: prohibit requiring caregiver registration, mandate shelters to return eartipped cats (identified by a clipped ear) to their original location, and make TNR the preferred option for impounded cats. The bill also overrides local laws restricting TNR and applies to all Maryland counties and municipalities. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 5, 2026 Last action Mar 23, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Local Government - Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats - Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law) → Third - Local Government - Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats - Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law) · 4 edits

MODERATE

HB 912 was amended to expand its legal scope by adding Section 10-604 to the Criminal Law, which creates an exemption from animal abandonment and neglect charges for people providing care to community cats under approved Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) policies. The bill also updated the list of sponsors and added committee approval status, while retaining the core TNR policy requirements for local governments.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include protection under Section 10-604 of the Criminal Law in addition to the existing Section 10-612, broadening the legal exemptions for TNR caregivers.

ENFORCEMENT

Added Section 10-604 to provide legal exemption from abandonment and neglect charges for TNR caregivers, previously only covered under Section 10-612.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated bill sponsors to include additional delegates (Healey, Lewis, Ziegler) and added committee report status showing favorable approval with amendments.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded the list of provisions exempt from abandonment charges to include both abandonment and neglect of animals under TNR policies.

TECHNICAL

Added bill metadata including committee report status, house action status, and second reading date.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

How they voted

132–0

Passed · 10 other

Total votes 142

Mar 11, 2026

D Democratic103

94 Yea 9

91% Yea

R Republican39

38 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation

lower

Mar 11, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (132-0-10)

house of delegates

Feb 5, 2026

Committee

First Reading Environment and Transportation

lower

7 primary · 0 co-sponsors