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Bill

HB 665

Research Facilities and Testing Facilities That Use Animals - Adoption and Reporting Requirements

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bonnie Cullison

Maryland bill requires research/testing facilities to rehome animals after studies and submit adoption/usage reports to increase transparency and animal welfare oversight.

Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 665

Legislative bill overview

HB 665 establishes adoption and reporting requirements for research and testing facilities in Maryland that use animals. The bill likely mandates that facilities rehome or adopt out animals after research completion rather than euthanizing them, and requires facilities to submit regular reports on their animal usage and adoption outcomes to state authorities.

Why is this important

Animal research facilities currently operate with minimal public transparency about what happens to research animals post-study. This bill addresses both animal welfare concerns and public accountability by creating documented pathways for animal placement and requiring facilities to demonstrate compliance with adoption standards.

Potential points of contention

  • Research facility burden: Mandating adoption programs may increase operational costs and administrative complexity for institutions conducting legitimate medical and safety research
  • Feasibility questions: Not all research animals can be safely or ethically rehomed (immunocompromised animals, those with behavioral issues from testing, or those with zoonotic disease risks), creating potential compliance conflicts
  • Reporting standards ambiguity: The bill's specificity on what data facilities must report, how often, and enforcement mechanisms remain unclear without seeing the full text

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

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