SB 299 — Maryland

County Boards of Education - Therapy Dogs - Policy for Handling and Use in Schools

Requiring a county board of education to allow, subject to certain requirements and policies, the use of therapy dogs in public schools in the county.

Latest action: Hearing 2/27 at 1:00 p.m. · Feb 19, 2026

In committeeCertificationsCountiesDogsEducation, Boards ofMedical ConditionsMental and Behavioral HealthNoticesParents and GuardiansPrimary and Secondary EducationPublic SchoolsRegistrationStandards and Best PracticesStudentsTeachers

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: Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

Updated Mar 17, 2026

Timeline

First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Jan 29, 2026 · Senate
Hearing canceled
Feb 19, 2026 · Senate
Hearing 2/27 at 1:00 p.m.
Feb 19, 2026 · Senate

Sponsored by Katie Hester, Chris West, Pam Beidle, Cheryl Kagan, Karen Young

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.