2025 Regular Session • Maryland Legislature
HB438: Civil Actions - Tortious Injury to or Death of Pet - Compensatory Damages (Buddy's Law)
Legislative Summary
Increasing from $10,000 to $25,000 the maximum amount of compensatory damages that may be awarded to an owner of a pet from a person who tortiously causes an injury to or death of the pet while acting individually or through an animal under the person's ownership, direction, or control.
Demographic Impact
Overall analysis of equity impact
80% Positive
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Bill History
1/16/2025
First Reading Judiciary
House of Delegates
1/17/2025
Hearing 2/05 at 1:00 p.m.
House of Delegates
2/3/2025
Hearing canceled
House of Delegates
2/3/2025
Hearing 2/05 at 2:00 p.m.
House of Delegates
3/10/2025
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary
House of Delegates
3/11/2025
Favorable with Amendments {603924/1 Adopted
House of Delegates
3/11/2025
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
House of Delegates
3/11/2025
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
House of Delegates
3/12/2025
Referred Judicial Proceedings
Senate
3/27/2025
Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
Senate
3/27/2025
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
Senate
4/2/2025
Third Reading Passed (47-0)
Senate
4/2/2025
Returned Passed
House of Delegates
4/22/2025
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 101
House of Delegates
Amendments
Favorable with Amendments 603924/1 Adopted
Favorable with Amendments 603924/1 Adopted
3/11/2025Adopted
Roll Call Votes
Third Reading Passed
3/11/2025
139
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
2
Absent
Result: PASSED
Status Information
Current Status
Passed(4/22/2025)
Chamber
House of Delegates
Sponsors
Democrat: 11
Republican: 4
Primary Sponsor

Sandy Bartlett
Democrat
Co-Sponsors (14)
Terri Hill
Democrat
Nicholaus Kipke
Republican
Mary Lehman
Democrat
Sheila Ruth
Democrat
LaToya Nkongolo
Republican
Lauren Arikan
Republican
Jon Cardin
Democrat
Aaron Kaufman
Democrat
Scott Phillips
Democrat
Sheree Sample-Hughes
Democrat
Stuart Schmidt
Republican
Karen Simpson
Democrat
Sean Stinnett
Democrat
Nicole Williams
Democrat