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SB 157

Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mary Beth Carozza and 2 co-sponsors

Governor vetoed Maryland's bill establishing a state disability service animal certification program to combat fraud and regulate handlers and trainer standards.

Vetoed by the Governor (Policy)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 157

Legislative bill overview

SB 157 would establish a formal Maryland Disability Service Animal Program to regulate, certify, and oversee service animals that assist people with disabilities. The bill creates standards for training, documentation, and handler qualifications while establishing enforcement mechanisms and potential penalties for misrepresentation of service animals.

Why is this important

Service animal fraud—where people falsely claim pets are service animals to bypass no-pet restrictions—undermines legitimate disabled individuals' access to necessary accommodations and creates public safety concerns. A formal state program aims to distinguish legitimate service animals from fraudulent ones while protecting genuine disabled handlers' rights and public trust in service animal designations.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and implementation burden: Establishing a new certification system requires state funding, training infrastructure, and administrative oversight that may be expensive or difficult to implement statewide
  • Access barriers for disabled individuals: Certification requirements could inadvertently create delays or financial obstacles for people with disabilities who need immediate service animal access, potentially limiting rather than expanding accommodations
  • Federal vs. state authority conflict: Federal law (ADA) already defines and regulates service animals; Maryland's separate program could create confusion, duplicate requirements, or conflict with existing federal standards and protections

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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