HB 1568 — Maryland
Local Government - Animal Control - Dogs At Large (Dog Leash Laws)
Requiring each county and municipality to adopt certain laws or ordinances prohibiting a dog from being at large; providing the Act may not be construed to preempt a local government from enacting and enforcing more stringent measures; and stating it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Act be applied and interpreted to recognize the definition of the term "running at large" as used by the Appellate Court of Maryland in Blitzer v. Breski, 259 Md. App. 257 (2023).
Latest action: Hearing 3/12 at 1:30 p.m. · Mar 12, 2026
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: Judiciary (House of Delegates)
Updated Mar 17, 2026
Timeline
First Reading Judiciary
Feb 13, 2026 · House of Delegates
Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Feb 16, 2026 · House of Delegates
Hearing canceled
Feb 16, 2026 · House of Delegates
Hearing 3/12 at 1:00 p.m.
Feb 16, 2026 · House of Delegates
Hearing canceled
Mar 12, 2026 · House of Delegates
Hearing 3/12 at 1:30 p.m.
Mar 12, 2026 · House of Delegates
Sponsored by Kim Ross
No recorded floor votes yet.
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.