MHC Government Relations Committee Report


YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION


by Kimberly K. Egan, MHC Co-President & Co-Chair of the MHC Government Relations Committee Te Maryland General Assembly is about half way through its 2022


session. Te deadline for filing new bills passed in mid-February, and the current bill count is at 2,343 as of this writing.


Bills MHC Supports


Public Trail Access (SB 86): Sen. Katie Fry Hester (D-Howard) pre-filed a bill on our behalf that would require tenants of any property owned by the MD Dept. of Natural Resources to maintain a border around the leased property sufficient to allow unobstructed access to trail heads by first responders and trail users. Te bill was approved unanimously by the Senate’s Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee, and passed the Senate with a unanimous floor vote. It now proceeds to the House of Delegates.


Right to Engage in Equine Activities (HB 116/SB 345): MHC testified in support of these bills to acknowledge that “equine activities are a val- ued part of the state’s historical, cultural and social heritage that provide unique, recreational benefits to residents of the state.” Te bill says that “it is the intent of the General Assembly that residents of the state have a right to engage in equine activities subject to regulations and restrictions under laws that the General Assembly enacts.”


Helmet Law for Minors (HB 713): MHC testified in support of this bill prohibiting an adult from allowing a minor to ride a horse on public property without wearing a “properly secured” ASTM-certified helmet. Te requirement would not apply to minors who are “practicing for, rid- ing to or from, or competing or performing in a show or event where helmets are not historically part of the show or event; crossing a public highway that separates privately owned land; or engaged in an agricul- tural practice or pursuit.”


Urban Agricultural Zones (HB 156): MHC submitted written testi- mony in support of a bill to permit local jurisdictions to direct USDA Conservation Innovation Grant funds to 501(c)(3)s that, among other things “(i) support opportunities for local economic development as- sociated with urban agricultural activities . . . .” Horses are considered livestock under Maryland law, which means that horse farms qualify as “agricultural” uses. MHC testified that this bill could, if passed, benefit equine non-profits that offer services in Baltimore City (such as MHC- member City Ranch) or in the close-in D.C. suburbs (such as MHC- member Wheaton Park Stables).


Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SB 378): MHC submitted written testimony in support of this bill which would, if passed, appropriate $900,000 to the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC). SMADC publishes the Southern Maryland Horse Extra, an on-line guide that lists each of the South- ern Maryland stables that are licensed by the Maryland Horse Industry Board, as well as the area’s hay and feed suppliers; tack shops; veterinary, dental, and farrier services; clinicians, coaches, and judges; equine clubs and organizations; and riding trails.


Fair Hill Special Event Area Funding (HB 658): MHC submitted tes- timony in support of this bill, which would, if passed, appropriate at least $1.8 million every year to maintain the grounds and facilities at Special Event Area at Fair Hill. Te Special Event Area hosts the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill as well as the Fair Hill steeplechase races, among many other events.


Great Maryland Outdoors Act (SB 541/HB 727): MHC submitted written testimony in support of this omnibus bill to improve State Park access and opportunities by implementing the 2021 Glendenning Com- mission Report. Te bill, if passed, would create a Park System Critical Maintenance Fund and would fund it with $80 million, and it would cre- ate a Parks & Recreation Commission to include 4 members appointed by the Governor to “reflect the racial, gender, ethnic, and geographic di- versity of the State.” Te bill would also create a Park Systems Capital Improvement &


Acquisitions Fund and fund it with $70 million, broken down as follows: (i) $5 million for flood barriers, forest buffers, green spaces, and similar; (ii) $5 million for historic preservation; (iii) $20 million for transporta- tion improvements including “bike lanes and trails”; (iv) $10 million for improving access to water; and (v) $30 million for land acquisition in central and southern Maryland to relieve overcrowding and improve ac- cess “to State parks and outdoor recreation.” Of particular interest to our trail riders, the bill would create and staff


a Volunteer Management Program modeled on the National Park Ser- vice’s Volunteers-in-Parks program to among other things, conduct an- nual volunteer training, develop and promote volunteer opportunities, and produce an annual report on volunteer statistics. Each of these initiatives has been a particular focus of MHC’s Trails &


Greenways Committee over the last several months. Tose of you who have participated in our Trails & Greenways Town Halls will know that the potential this bill has to solve many of our multi-use trail concerns is both promising and heartening.


Maryland the Beautiful Act (SB 791/HB 1031): MHC submitted tes- timony in support of this bill which would, if passed, create a $10 mil- lion Local Land Trust Revolving Fund to help land trusts buy property for conservation purposes. Te bill also sets various conservation goals so that by 2040, 40% of all “lands in the State” would be permanently conserved.


Winery & Vineyard Economic Development Grants (SB 594): MHC submitted written testimony in favor of this bill which would, if passed, appropriate $1 million to a new Winery and Vineyard Economic De- velopment Grant Program. Te new program would administer grants equal to 25% of the qualified capital expenses incurred by wineries or vineyards. Tis bill could benefit those wineries that are housed on horse farms, such as Te Vineyards at Dodon and MHC-member Hidden Hills Farm and Vineyard.


continued... join.mdhorsecouncil.org 42 | MARCH 2022 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION 800-244-9580 | www.equiery.com


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