Animal Welfare - Declawing Cats - Prohibited Acts (SB0067)
Summary
Maryland Senate Bill 0067, sponsored by Senator Kagan, was enacted as Chapter 179 during the 2022 Regular Session. The law prohibits certain acts related to declawing cats under the state's animal welfare framework. The bill received gubernatorial approval and establishes violations for veterinary or animal welfare-related entities that perform cat declawing procedures.
What changed
Maryland enacted SB0067 as Chapter 179, establishing new prohibited acts related to cat declawing under state animal welfare law. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Kagan and received gubernatorial approval.\n\nVeterinarians, veterinary hospitals, and animal welfare organizations in Maryland must immediately comply with the new restrictions on cat declawing. Affected parties should review current practices and patient consent procedures to ensure alignment with the prohibition.
What to do next
- Cease performing cat declawing procedures
- Advise clients on alternatives to declawing
Archived snapshot
Apr 18, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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About
Legislation Full Text Publications MediaLegislation
Session: 2022 Regular Session
SB0067
CH0179
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placeholder To Governor Title Animal Welfare - Declawing Cats - Prohibited Acts Sponsored by Senator Kagan Status Approved by the Governor - Chapter 179 Analysis Fiscal and Policy Note (Revised) Synopsis Prohibiting a veterinary practitioner from performing certain declawing procedures on a cat unless the procedure is necessary for a therapeutic purpose; authorizing the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to impose certain disciplinary actions on a veterinary practitioner for willful violations of the prohibition; providing that a violation of the Act is a civil offense; and providing that a person who violates the Act is subject to a fine of up to $1,000. Committees Original: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Opposite: Environment and Transportation Committee Testimony Witness List Details Cross-filed with: HB0022 Bill File Type: Pre-Filed Effective Date(s): October 1, 2022 History
| Legislation History |
| --- |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 10/05/2021 Legislative Date 10/05/2021 Action Pre-filed Proceedings |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 1/12/2022 Legislative Date 1/12/2022 Action First Reading Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Proceedings |
| Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - First - Animal Welfare - Declawing Cats - Prohibited Acts Proceedings |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 1/14/2022 Legislative Date 1/14/2022 Action Hearing 1/25 at 1:30 p.m. Proceedings |
| Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Proceedings |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/15/2022 Legislative Date 2/15/2022 Action Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Proceedings |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/16/2022 Legislative Date 2/13/2022 Action Favorable with Amendments { 253825/1 Proceedings 25 |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/16/2022 Legislative Date 2/13/2022 Action Motion Laid Over (Senator Jennings) Adopted Proceedings 25 |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/17/2022 Legislative Date 2/14/2022 Action Favorable with Amendments { 253825/1 Adopted Proceedings 26 |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/17/2022 Legislative Date 2/14/2022 Action Floor Amendment { 843821/1 (Senator Jennings) Rejected (18-29) Proceedings 26 |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/17/2022 Legislative Date 2/14/2022 Action Second Reading Passed with Amendments Proceedings 26 |
| Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - Third - Animal Welfare - Declawing Cats - Prohibited Acts Proceedings |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/21/2022 Legislative Date 2/16/2022 Action Third Reading Passed (32-14) Proceedings 28 |
| Chamber House Calendar Date 2/22/2022 Legislative Date 2/22/2022 Action Referred Environment and Transportation Proceedings 15 |
| Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - House - Committee - Environment and Transportation Proceedings |
| Chamber House Calendar Date 3/31/2022 Legislative Date 3/31/2022 Action Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation Proceedings |
| Chamber House Calendar Date 4/01/2022 Legislative Date 3/26/2022 Action Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed Proceedings 47A |
| Chamber House Calendar Date 4/04/2022 Legislative Date 3/27/2022 Action Third Reading Passed (102-24) Proceedings 48 |
| Chamber Senate Calendar Date 4/04/2022 Legislative Date 3/23/2022 Action Returned Passed Proceedings 63 |
| Chamber Post Passage Calendar Date 4/21/2022 Legislative Date 4/21/2022 Action Approved by the Governor - Chapter 179 Proceedings |
| Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - Chapter - Animal Welfare - Declawing Cats - Prohibited Acts Proceedings |
| Chamber | Calendar Date | Legislative Date | Action | Proceedings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | 10/05/2021 | 10/05/2021 | Pre-filed | |
| Senate | 1/12/2022 | 1/12/2022 | First Reading Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs | |
| Text - First - Animal Welfare - Declawing Cats - Prohibited Acts | ||||
| Senate | 1/14/2022 | 1/14/2022 | Hearing 1/25 at 1:30 p.m. | |
| Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs | ||||
| Senate | 2/15/2022 | 2/15/2022 | Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs | |
| Senate | 2/16/2022 | 2/13/2022 | Favorable with Amendments { 253825/1 | 25 |
| Senate | 2/16/2022 | 2/13/2022 | Motion Laid Over (Senator Jennings) Adopted | 25 |
| Senate | 2/17/2022 | 2/14/2022 | Favorable with Amendments { 253825/1 Adopted | 26 |
| Senate | 2/17/2022 | 2/14/2022 | Floor Amendment { 843821/1 (Senator Jennings) Rejected (18-29) | 26 |
| Senate | 2/17/2022 | 2/14/2022 | Second Reading Passed with Amendments | 26 |
| Text - Third - Animal Welfare - Declawing Cats - Prohibited Acts | ||||
| Senate | 2/21/2022 | 2/16/2022 | Third Reading Passed (32-14) | 28 |
| House | 2/22/2022 | 2/22/2022 | Referred Environment and Transportation | 15 |
| Vote - House - Committee - Environment and Transportation | ||||
| House | 3/31/2022 | 3/31/2022 | Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation | |
| House | 4/01/2022 | 3/26/2022 | Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed | 47A |
| House | 4/04/2022 | 3/27/2022 | Third Reading Passed (102-24) | 48 |
| Senate | 4/04/2022 | 3/23/2022 | Returned Passed | 63 |
| Post Passage | 4/21/2022 | 4/21/2022 | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 179 | |
| Text - Chapter - Animal Welfare - Declawing Cats - Prohibited Acts |
File Code Agriculture Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes Subjects Animals -see also- Birds; Dogs Civil Actions -see also- Small Claims Committees and Commissions -see also- Political Committees Discipline Fines -see also- Penalties and Sentences Law Enforcement -see also- State Police, Department of Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications;Drivers' Licenses Veterinarians Statutes Article - Agriculture (
2-301, 2-310, 2-310.1, 2-313.3 ) Article - Criminal Law (
10-625.1 ) Last Updated: 7/8/2022 2:46 PM
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