Government Relations Committee THE MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL
by Jane Seigler, MHC Government Relations Committee Co-Chair Below is a report on the bills the Maryland Horse Council has been
advocating on or monitoring in Annapolis this session. As of press, the session is about two thirds over, and the pace of activity has become intense, including voting sessions late into the night and on weekends. By the time you read this, some of these bills will have reached a dead end in the process and will not become law this year. Tat is because, in the Maryland legislative process, each bill must pass both chambers, the House and the Senate, before it can be sent to the Governor for his sig- nature and become law. A critical point in that process is what is known as “Cross Over Day.” Tis year, that day was March 20. Bills that had not passed out of one chamber and “crossed over” for consideration in the other by that date are effectively dead for this year. Here are the bills that have leapt the CROSS OVER hurdle as of this
writing. Just making it to the other chamber is no guarantee, however, that a bill will ultimately become law. Because there are so many bills (almost 2300 this year), and so little time, (any bill that hasn’t passed both houses by midnight on April 10 is dead), some bills will simply run out of time. You can check on the current status of any bill by going to https://mgaleg.
maryland.gov/mgawebsite/ and typing the bill number into the search box.
Helmet bill (HB 20) - requiring minors to wear helmets when riding on certain properties, including facilities for which the primary purpose is rec- reational, educational, or competitive activities. Tere are some exceptions, including when practicing for or participating in a show or event where hel- mets are not historically a part. Passed the House and is now in the Senate.
Value added ag ombudsman/specialist (SB 34/HB 389) - creates a posi- tion within the MD Department of Ag to provide support for value added ag operations. We successfully lobbied to get Equine Activities specifically included. Each cross-filed bill has passed out of its chamber of origin.
Hunting and outdoor recreation (SB 327/HB 983) - a very long bill that: establishes the Wildlife Conservation, Education, and Outreach Program to foster interest in outdoor recreation and stewardship, hunt- ing, and wildlife conservation; increases license and stamp fees for the first time in 30/40 years, which will increase federal matching funds; allows the Heritage Conservation Fund to acquire interests in land that can be used by the general public for hunting; authorizes a nonresident attending a college or university in the State to purchase a resident hunt- ing license; etc. BUT one line in the 13 page bill would have allowed statewide Sunday hunting of migratory game birds. Te bill was hotly contested, with intense opposition to the Sunday hunting provision from many eastern shore waterfowl outfitter and guide interests, as well as from MHC. Tere were many amendments offered. Te bills that passed each of their chambers of origin no longer contained the provision to allow Sunday hunting of migratory waterfowl, added a provision that would allow a portion of any increased federal funding to be used for “sacrificial crops” planted by farmers to reduce deer damage, and eliminated or restricted a proposed study to reduce the deer population by allowing Sunday hunting on state park lands.
Terapy horse definition (SB 910) - removes the words “premier accredit- ed” from the listing of Professional Association of Terapeutic Horseman- ship, International (PATH, Intl.) member centers as among the entities that qualify for participation in and to receive funding from the Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program within the MD Veterans Dept.
Pet eviction protections (SB 279/HB 102) - sets up a series of proce- dures to protect pets and the pet owners’ rights in the event of evictions. Limited to cats and dogs. Passed the House. We tried unsuccessfully to amend horses in. Next year!
Wildlife Advisory Commission membership (SB 320/HB 188) - the WAC is a stakeholder group within DNR’s Wildlife Heritage Service, to advise on wildlife issues. Currently, only farmers have a dedicated seat. Tis bill would add a mandated seat for a wildlife scientist, plus seats for hunters, the wildlife preservation community, and the passive wildlife recreation community. Each cross-filed bill has passed out of its chamber of origin. We tried unsuccessfully to get a seat specified for the mounted and unmounted chasing communities. Maybe next year!
Snare traps (SB 275/HB 406) - requires users of snare traps to obtain an ID number from DNR and make sure that it is on the trap. Each cross- filed bill has passed out of its chamber of origin.
Solar Task force (SB 469) - to study and make recommendations re- garding a tax strategy that is more competitive than the State’s current strategy to maximize the installation of rooftop solar panels.
On farm composting (SB 262/HB 253) - creates a permit exemption for on farm composting facilities that use less than 10,000 square feet and compost only certain materials, including animal manure and bed- ding. We successfully requested an amendment that would make clear that the record keeping requirements in the bill do not apply to farmers who compost only their own animal manure and bedding produced on the farm. Each cross-filed bill has passed out of its chamber of origin.
Out of state vets, vaccines, etc. (SB 390/HB 325) - provides for an ex- pedited reciprocity process and allows vet techs or clinical staff to give ra- bies vaccines to animals in animal control facilities or shelters, if trained and identified on the vaccination certificate, which must still be signed by a vet. Each cross-filed bill has passed out of its chamber of origin.
Electricity for ag purposes (SB 640/HB 678) - exempts electricity used for agricultural purposes from the sales and use tax. (For cases where there are separate meters from the residence.) Passed Senate; amended to sunset in 2 years.
Agrivoltaics (SB 613/HB 908) - a big bill that, among other things, makes permanent a pilot program to encourage community solar. It de- fines agrivoltaics to include horse boarding breeding and training and provides incentives for agrivoltaics. House bill has passed.
Want to know how you can make an impact right now? Go to
mdhorsecouncil.org, scroll down to the bottom left and click on the “Donate” to the PAC button. Your contribution in any amount helps us fuel our efforts in Annapolis!
36 | APRIL 2023 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION 800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
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