MD HB228

Prohibits slaughtering racehorses in Maryland for commercial purposes, including human or animal consumption, and bans purchasing, selling, transferring, importing, or transporting racehorses if the person knows or should know the horse will be slaughtered commercially

Defines "racehorse" broadly to include horses bred or intended for racing (weanlings, yearlings, horses in training, breeding stock) and horses that have been recorded on a Maryland track backstretch, had a recorded workout, or participated in pari-mutuel race meetings

Individual violators face misdemeanor charges with fines up to $1,000 and/or 1 year imprisonment for first offense, increasing to $2,000 for subsequent offenses; corporations and other entities face fines up to $2,500 for first offense and $5,000 for subsequent offenses

State Racing Commission and State Department of Agriculture may revoke or suspend licenses of violators, with fines collected deposited into the racing Special Fund

Humane euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian for non-commercial reasons (severe injury, maiming, or conditions resulting in no quality of life) is explicitly permitted; effective date is July 1, 2026