The 2025 Maryland Humane Scorecard is now available online and highlights the progress being made on animal protection in the state. From leading the charge on tamping down on cockfighting to increasing access to veterinary care, sitting lawmakers took action to protect all of Maryland’s animals.

Despite an increasingly polarized political environment, Maryland’s lawmakers across the ideological spectrum united behind key animal protection reforms. The outcomes driven by these bipartisan coalitions continue to cement the state’s leadership on animal welfare and prove that care for our companion, farmed, and wild animals supersedes party lines.

Chief among the pro-animal accomplishments this year is SB 375/HB 513, signed into law by Governor Wes Moore. The law, the first of its kind in the nation, will prohibit the keeping of roosters individually in enclosures with little to no light or with the use of tethers to combat cockfighting.

Humane World Action Fund urges Marylanders to review the 2025 Maryland Humane Scorecard and gauge how their representatives voted on SB 375/HB 513 as well as other pieces of legislation that supports veterinarians, protects renters with pets, and prioritizes habitat connectivity.

Using the Scorecard

This year’s Maryland Humane Scorecard includes bills that were considered by the Maryland General Assembly. Here is a list of each bill and how to read the scorecard.

• Restrictions on Keeping Roosters (SB 375/HB 513): A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of SB375/HB513. This bill prohibits a person from keeping a rooster movement-constrained through use of certain enclosures or tethers. This law targets cockfighting. Sponsored by Sen. Ben Kramer (D-19) and Del. Nick Allen (D-8).
• Crimes Relating to Animals – Conviction and Sentencing (SB 152/HB 89): A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of SB152/HB89. This bill corrects an error in the state code to ensure that in cases where an individual is accused of cruelty to multiple animals that charges can be brought for each animal. Sponsored by Sen. Chris West (R-42) and Del. Elizabeth Embry (D-43A).
• Pet Policy Transparency Act (SB 896/HB 1152): A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of SB896/HB1152. This bill requires rental housing providers proactively share their pet policies so that no family commits to housing only to discover they cannot keep their pet. Sponsored by Sen. Karen Lewis Young (D-3) and Del. Michele Guyton (D-42B).
• Wildlife Protections and Highway Crossings (SB 635/HB 731): A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of SB635/HB731. This bill ensures that wildlife movement and habitat connectivity are factored into highway projects and local plans and creates a fund to leverage federal connectivity funding. Sponsored by Sen. Karen Lewis Young (D-3) and Del. Sheila Ruth (D-44B).
• Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program Eligibility (SB 318/HB 643): This bill includes veterinarians in the state’s public service loan forgiveness program, expanding access to veterinary care by incentivizing more veterinarians to work in Maryland. Sponsored by Sen. Karen Lewis Young (D-3) and Del. Michele Guyton (D-42B).

About our methodology

Humane World Action Fund acknowledges the limitations of judging legislators based on a few votes on animal issues, however important those issues may be. In some cases, legislators must miss votes for unavoidable reasons, such as a death in the family, serious illness, birth of a child, or emergency in their district. Additionally, some bills may have good intentions but include problematic language or have unintended legal consequences.

There are many potential reasons a legislator votes a certain way—even more reason to engage with your elected officials directly and ask them their positions on various issues. In assessing the record of your representatives, and your strategy for engaging them in the future, do consider unrecorded matters such as committee participation and performance, House or Senate leadership posts, constituent engagement and responsiveness, and the other animal protection bills not included in this scorecard.

The full 2025 Maryland Humane Scorecard, and scorecards from previous sessions, can be found online at humaneaction.org/state-scorecards.

We urge you to review the scorecard and see how your representatives voted for animals. Let’s celebrate positive actions taken and hold those accountable who did not vote humanely. Remember, the entire Maryland General Assembly will be up for election next year alongside statewide offices. Together, we can elect candidates who will continue to fight for all animals.