DISSINTER

HB 1551 — Maryland

Department of Agriculture - Regulation of Dog Breeders

Establishing the Dog Breeder Accountability Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; requiring, on or before July 1, beginning in 2028, a dog breeder to register annually with the Department of Agriculture and, at the time of registration, pay an annual registration fee of $150; requiring, beginning on July 1, 2029, and within 30 days after the birth of a litter, a dog breeder to apply to the Department for a puppy birth certificate for each puppy born in the litter; etc.

Latest action: Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. · Feb 17, 2026

In committeeAgricultureAgriculture, Department ofAnimal Shelters and RescuesApplicants and ApplicationsAwareness and OutreachBusiness RegulationCertificationsClassifications and DesignationsComptrollerDogsFeesFormsPenalties and SentencesRegistrationReportsRevenue and TaxesRules and RegulationsTechnologyTransfer of GoodsTreasurers

Synopsis written by the legislature's own staff, as published on the official bill page. Status label is derived from the recorded actions. The full text below is the record.

Committees: Economic Matters (House of Delegates)

Updated Mar 17, 2026

Timeline

  1. First Reading Economic Matters

    Feb 13, 2026 · House of Delegates

  2. Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m.

    Feb 17, 2026 · House of Delegates

Sponsored by Ric Metzgar

No recorded floor votes yet.

Fiscal and Policy Note — official analysis by legislative staff (PDF) Bill text (First reading) — Maryland General Assembly (PDF) Official record — Maryland General Assembly bill page

Official records. Maryland legislators, bills and roll-call votes from the Maryland General Assembly, imported through Open States on Oct 27, 2026 (partial import — not yet the full session). Accuracy review against the official site is still under way. Campaign-finance records for Maryland are not imported yet.