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

SB 750 (Ash's Law) creates a legal exception to Maryland’s animal abandonment law for people caring for community cats under Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. It defines "community cats" (free-roaming cats cared for by neighborhood residents) and "community cat caregivers" (those providing food/shelter under TNR), requiring local governments to adopt TNR policies that: - Prohibit registration requirements for caregivers, - Allow reclaiming impounded cats without proof of ownership, - Mandate returning eartipped cats (identified via ear notch) to their original location. The law preempts conflicting local rules and directly affects community cat caregivers, animal shelters, and local governments implementing TNR programs.