04/29/2025

House Bill 240

Lead Sponsors: Representative Meredith Lawson-Rowe and Representative Cecil Thomas

Status: Introduction (April 17, 2025)

Description: The bill changes the classification of dogs that have harmed other creatures:

• Expands the "dangerous dog" classification to those that cause injury or serious injury, other than death, to any companion animal.
  
  
  • Current law only applies this to other dogs, not the broader companion animal (i.e., pets) category.
    
    
• Expands the "vicious dog" classification to those that have killed companion animals.
  
  
• Broadens the definition of "without provocation" by applying a standard for attacks on humans and attacks on companion animals:
  
  
  • For humans, the existing standard remains (the dog was not teased, tormented, or abused by the human it attacked or killed).
    
    
  • For companion animals, "without provocation" means the dog was not initially attacked by the other animal.

The bill also requires that attacks by dogs or other non-human mammals be reported to the health commissioner of the health district where the attack occurred and makes certain individuals mandatory reporters.

Finally, the bill adds additional criminal penalties for various dog-related offenses.

CCAO Position: No position (as of April 2025)