NEWS & VIEWS continued


seen at MHC’s Legislative Blog: http://www. mdhorsecouncil.org/legislative-blog), and we have shown up in force to testify in person. (Many thanks to our members who made the trek to Annapolis to testify on bills - really im- portant work and much appreciated. T e legis- lators do notice, and they have told us so!) Here is the latest on the bills we have been


monitoring. Note that in the last few days of the session things change constantly and fast. To fi nd more information about or the current status of any of these bills, to fi nd out who your legislators are and how to contact them, and for more information on how bills are created and move through the legislative process, go to: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/ frm1st.aspx?tab=home. MHC fi led comments expressing safety concerns about a bill (HB 222/SB 268) that would allow drivers to cross a double yellow line to pass slower moving vehi- cles, such as bicycles and farm equipment (including horse trailers). T e House bill is dead; the Senate version is still alive but not moving as of this writing. We fi led testimony supporting - • a bond issue (HB 1037/SB 434) for the Talis- man T erapeutic Riding Center on the Eastern Shore (still in Committees); • another bond issue for a Maryland Equine Education Center at Goucher College (pend- ing in the House committee); • bills (SB 610/HB 766) strengthening Mary- land’s Forest Conservation law (still pending in House and Senate committees); • and a bill (HB 7/SB 182) providing a $50 tax credit to off set expenses for venison donated to the Maryland Food Bank or the Maryland Chapter of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (these bills have passed their respective chambers). We also submitted comments to point out


some problems with a bill (HB 1232), that would dedicate 1% of purse funds to aftercare of retired racehorses and sanctuary T orough- breds. T is bill was withdrawn. Other bills we have been monitoring:


• HB 46 - Obliging farm equipment wider than 15 feet to display amber lights. Applies to equipment carrying hay bales. Dead. • HB 119 - Adds Calvert County to the coun- ties (currently St. Mary’s and Charles) where Deer Management (crop damage) Permit holders may hunt deer with fi rearms through- out the year, including all deer hunting seasons. Passed the House; still pending in the Senate. • HB 198 - Exemption from the inheritance tax for real property subject to a perpetual con- servation easement that passes from a decedent to a niece or nephew of the decedent. Passed the House; pending in the Senate • HB 212/SB 1038 - Authorize a court to pro- hibit a defendant convicted of certain animal


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cruelty crimes from owning, possessing, or resid- ing with an animal for time up to the life of the defendant, etc. Passed their respective chambers. • HB 396/SB 354 - Allowing counties that have an agricultural land preservation program to as- sess an agricultural land preservation fee to fund said program. House bill died; Senate bill passed Senate and is now pending in the House. • HB 421/SB 463 - Authorize the State Racing Commission to hire an equine director and re- quiring Standardbred and T oroughbred track licensees, owners and breeders to pay the cost, 80% by T oroughbreds and 20% by Standard- breds. Withdrawn. • HB 565 - Makes mandatory the previously


race meeting a year at Shawan Downs and di- recting specifi c use of profi ts. Withdrawn. • SB 851/HB 1592 - Requiring each licensed owner and trainer to be a member of the Mary- land Jockey Injury Compensation Fund and adding trainers to the defi nition of employer, etc. Passed both houses. As we have in most sessions of the past


For more information about how to make your voice heard effectively in Annapolis, check out MHC’s “Grass- roots Lobbying Brochure” by scan- ning the QR Code or going to https:// goo.gl/WCjKd5


permissive language re: impounding animals. Withdrawn. • HB 698 - Establishing an Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. T e byproducts of industrial hemp can be used for equine bedding. Passed the House; pending in the Senate. • HB 870/SB 1065 - Encouraging counties to implement an agricultural education program to use integrated classroom and laboratory in- struction, supervised agricultural experiences, and leadership experiences and involvement in student organizations. Passed the House; pending in the Senate. • HB 1177 - To create/join the Interstate Anti- Doping and Drug Testing Standards Compact to create uniform rules on permitted drugs and medications. Passed in the House; pending in the Senate. • HB 1429 - Altering the safety zone for ar- chery hunters to 50 yards statewide. Dead. • HB 1629 - Establishing the Maryland Ani- mal Abuse Registry requiring people convicted of certain crimes involving animals to register with a county sheriff ; requiring a court to order a defendant convicted of an animal abuse crime to participate in and pay for certain counseling; etc. Dead. • HB 1721/SB 1158 - Modifi cations to Preak- ness and Maryland International stakes incen- tives. Passed the House; pending in the Senate. • HB 1736/SB 1140 - Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, clarifying that rules regarding the release of a lot from ease- ment restrictions for use by children includes use by step-children as well. Passed the Senate; pending in the House. • SB 747 - Prohibiting holders of Deer Man- agement Permits (crop damage permits) from shooting at night. Dead. • SB 762/HB 1442 - Authorizing one 1-day


decade and a half or so, MHC responded to proposals to expand Sunday deer hunting, which was, until the early 2000s, prohibited in Maryland. Since that time, various bills have been introduced to allow Sunday hunting in certain counties, and then to expand it once it was initially allowed in those counties. MHC’s position has been that one weekend day per week should be preserved for other stakeholders (horseback riders, walkers, bikers, birdwatchers, etc.) to have quiet and safe enjoyment of the outdoors. In recent years, most Sunday hunt- ing bills have been focused on a spe-


cifi c county or counties. T is year, a much more sweeping bill (SB 817, cross-fi led as HB 1338) was introduced. It would apply statewide, and would authorize the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to:


a) allow a full day of hunting on 3 Sundays in deer Firearm season, 2 Sundays in deer muz- zleloader season, and all Sundays in deer bow season; and,


b) allow additional Sundays until 10:30 am,


presumably in any deer season. With the tremendous help of our registered


lobbyist Frank Boston and his team, MHC responded strongly to these bills, submitting detailed written testimony with extensive data showing that Sunday hunting is not an eff ective deer control mechanism, and that the right to enjoy the outdoors should be shared equitably by all users. We also had a large contingent at the live hearings, joining other opponents. Legisla- tors in both the House and Senate commented on the large number of people who showed up at the hearings to oppose the bill. As of this writ- ing, the bills appear to be dead. Check the link above in this article for up to date info on the status of these and any other bills. For more information about how to make


your voice heard eff ectively in Annapolis, check out MHC’s “Grassroots Lobbying Brochure:” http://www.mdhorsecouncil.org/images/grass- rootslobbyingfl yer2.pdf


Montgomery Co. Catching Up on Equine Licenses


Early in March, several Equiery readers re-


ported receiving letters from the Montgomery County Animal Services Division of the De- partment of Police stating that they were in vi- olation of Montgomery County Code Section


continued... APRIL 2018 | THE EQUIERY | 9


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