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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland transfers Human-Relevant Research Fund contribution collection to Department of Agriculture
Last action · May 12, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 384Sponsor: Guy Guzzone
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What This Bill Does
Maryland shifts the responsibility of collecting annual contributions for the Human-Relevant Research Fund from the Maryland Department of Health to the Department of Agriculture, effective October 1, 2026. Research facilities required to submit federal form 7023 must pay tiered annual contributions ranging from $5,000 to $75,000 based on animal counts. Facilities failing to pay face civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day.
Changes administrative oversight for research facility funding contributions and establishes a daily monetary penalty for non-payment, shifting enforcement authority to a different state agency.
- The Human-Relevant Research Fund was previously established under the Economic Development Article to support alternatives to animal testing. context
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Form 7023 is a federally mandated report filed annually by research facilities regarding regulated animals. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Research facilities submitting Form 7023
Research facilities must pay annual tiered contributions to the Department of Agriculture instead of the Department of Health and face civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day for non-payment.
Department of Agriculture
The Department assumes administrative responsibility for collecting research fund contributions and distributing them to the Human-Relevant Research Fund.
Maryland Department of Health
The Department is relieved of its prior responsibility for collecting research fund contributions under the Health Article.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state agency now collects the Human-Relevant Research Fund contributions?
What is the penalty if a research facility fails to pay the required contribution?
How is the contribution amount determined?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
13 actions- May 12, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 384
- Apr 3, 2026SenateFloorReturned Passed
- Apr 2, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (97-37)
- Apr 1, 2026HouseFloorFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- Apr 1, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable Report by Health
- Mar 19, 2026HouseHearing 3/24 at 1:00 p.m.
Show 7 earlier actions
- Mar 13, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Health
- Mar 12, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (32-13)
- Mar 10, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed
- Mar 10, 2026SenateFloorFavorable Adopted
- Mar 9, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable Report by Finance
- Feb 12, 2026SenateHearing 2/27 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 5, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Finance
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Inter-Agency Revenue Collection Transfer
Responsibility for collecting research fund contributions is moved entirely from the health department to the agriculture department.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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