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SB 535

Research Facilities and Testing Facilities That Use Animals - Licensing and Regulations

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ben Kramer

SB 535 requires Maryland state licensing and new regulations for animal research and testing facilities, adding state-level oversight to existing federal requirements.

Hearing 2/27 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · SB 535

Legislative bill overview

SB 535 establishes new licensing and regulatory requirements for research facilities and testing facilities that use animals in Maryland. The bill creates a state oversight system to govern how these facilities operate, handle animals, and comply with animal welfare standards.

Why is this important

Research and testing facilities currently operate under federal regulations (primarily the Animal Welfare Act), but this bill would add state-level oversight and potentially stricter standards. This affects biomedical research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and universities conducting animal research in Maryland—an economically significant sector—while also addressing public concerns about animal welfare in laboratory settings.

Potential points of contention

  • Economic impact on research institutions: New state licensing requirements and compliance costs could burden Maryland's research sector and potentially drive facilities to other states with lighter regulations
  • Duplication of federal oversight: Critics may argue the bill creates redundant bureaucracy since the USDA already regulates covered facilities, raising questions about cost-effectiveness
  • Scope and stringency ambiguity: The bill's specific regulatory requirements aren't detailed in this summary, leaving uncertainty about how burdensome or restrictive the standards will actually be on laboratory operations

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

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