The 2024 Maryland Humane Scorecard is now available online. This year, lawmakers passed a notable victory that will prohibit travelling acts from using bears, big cats, elephants, and non-human primates in the state. We at HSLF celebrate this victory, but we also recognize that overall, we saw a lack of progress on animal issues in the 2024 session.
We encourage Marylanders to review the scorecard to see how their representatives acted on legislation concerning circuses, endangered species, animal cruelty, and cockfighting. Thank lawmakers who used their power to advance animal protections. Hold those who failed to vote humanely accountable. Remember, we as voters have the power to elect legislators who share our mission of making Maryland, and the world, a better place for all animals.
The bills scored on the 2024 Maryland Humane Scorecard which passed the state legislature and were signed into law include:
Traveling Acts (SB 547/HB 379): A ✓ indicates a vote for SB 547/HB 379, which will prohibit travelling acts from using bears, big cats, elephants, and non-human primates. Humane circuses are not just cruelty free, they are safer for the humans working at and watching the performances – while still delivering quality entertainment. Sen. Sarah Elfreth (D) and Del. Sara Love (D) sponsored this legislation.
Endangered Species Protections (SB 916/HB 345): A ✓ indicates a vote for SB 916/HB 345, which will codify best practices for protecting species identified as endangered by the state. Sen. Benjamin Brooks (D) and Del. Julie Palakovich Carr (D) sponsored this legislation.
Three bills did pass the Senate, but failed to advance in the House. One of these, SB 1055/HB 1030, would have restricted the private ownership of large numbers of roosters in order to crack down on cockfighting. Another critical bill (SB 17/HB 667) would have clarified that if an individual is accused of harming multiple animals, charges can be brought for each animal harmed. And a bill to develop wildlife crossing across highways, SB 902/HB 1129, likewise did not advance in the House. These bills not only have broad public support, but had the support of the Senate and HSLF urges the House to tackle these critical issues in 2025.
Perhaps most disappointing was the legislature’s neglect of a bill that would have banned the confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages. Sponsored by Sen. Karen Lewis Young (D) and Del. Jen Terrasa (D), SB 193/HB 357 is crucial legislation in creating more humane conditions for farmed hens who live in cages so small that they cannot spread their wings. This bill did not garner a full floor vote and thus is not included in the scorecard, but it remains a priority issue for HSLF.
HSLF 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–all the 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 2024 Maryland Humane Scorecard, and scorecards from previous sessions, can be found online at hslf.org/state-scorecards. HSLF encourages Marylanders to review the scorecard and put it into action. We all have the power to elevate animal protection issues. We can do that by getting political for animals, contacting our representatives, and voting for candidates who share our vision of a cruelty-free world.
