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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (June 10, 2025)\u2014Today Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society Legislative Fund, released its 2025 Maryland Humane Scorecard<\/a>. Published annually since 2021, the Maryland scorecard grades state lawmakers on their actions during the most recent legislative session to advance animal protection.<\/p>\n Released by the nation\u2019s leading animal advocacy organization, the 2025 Maryland Humane Scorecard highlights bipartisan support for several pro-animal bills introduced during the state legislative session. Chief among them is a historic milestone in humane law: legislation signed by Governor Wes Moore that will restrict the keeping of roosters. This bill is a significant step toward ending the cruel practice of cockfighting and the exploitation of birds bred specifically for that purpose. Lawmakers also addressed the state\u2019s veterinary shortage by adding veterinarians to Maryland\u2019s public service loan forgiveness program. This bill was also signed into law by Gov. Moore.<\/p>\n \u201cWe applaud the Maryland General Assembly for their continued commitment to animal welfare during the 2025 legislative session. These hard-won victories were made possible by strong bipartisan support and show that compassion for animals is something people on both sides of the aisle can agree on,\u201d said Stacey Volodin, Maryland state director for Humane World Action Fund. \u201cThe enactment of restrictions on keeping roosters marks a significant advancement in our efforts to prevent animal suffering, while new measures to strengthen enforcement penalties, improve transparency in pet rental housing practices, and expand access to veterinary care reflect a holistic approach to protecting animals across the state.”<\/p>\n Nearly all Maryland Senators\u201441 in total\u2014scored 80% or higher on the scorecard, with 35 Senators receiving a perfect score of 100%. Additionally, the majority of Maryland House of Delegates\u2014100 members\u2014received a perfect score. Only eight delegates scored below 50%, reflecting strong overall support for animal protection legislation among Maryland state lawmakers in 2025.<\/p>\n About the scorecard<\/strong><\/p>\n The 2025 Maryland Humane Scorecard<\/a> includes bills that were considered by the Maryland General Assembly. Humane World Action Fund only scores bills that receive roll-call votes to accurately reflect legislators\u2019 actions. When reading the scorecard, a \u2713 indicates a pro-animal action.<\/p>\n As the nation\u2019s leading political advocacy organization for animal protection, Humane World Action Fund publishes state legislative and congressional scorecards to track the relevant votes, co-sponsorships and other actions of lawmakers. These scorecards highlight which lawmakers are leading on animal protection, and which ones need greater pressure to act. Explore all our scorecards online at humaneaction.org\/scorecard<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n Media Contact:<\/strong> Liz Bartolomeo: ebartolomeo@humaneaction.org<\/a>, 240-472-0475<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n