MHC Government Relations Committee Report, continued...
oughbred Operating Authority to oversee the stalled plans for improving the Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park tracks and to be a fail-safe for running the facilities, should racing be shut down on July 1, the day after an agreement with the Stronach Group for operating the tracks expires.
Snare traps (SB 275/HB 406) - requires users of snare traps (except on their own land) to obtain an ID number from DNR and to make sure that it is on the trap.
Minimum wage acceleration (SB 555) - moves up by one year the effective date of the $15 per hour minimum wage, from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2024. Note that some, but not all, agricultural workers, workers under 16 who work less than 20 hours per week, some camp employees, etc. are exempt from the minimum wage law. Employers should check with a legal advisor on the applicability of the minimum wage law to their employees.
Howard County archery safety zone (HB 1005) - reduces from 150 to 50 yards the required distance from dwellings or certain other buildings and requires elevated trees stands, but only applies to managed hunts and hunters with Deer Management Permits.
Out of state vets, vaccines, etc. (SB 390/HB 325) - provides for an ex- pedited reciprocity process for granting Maryland licenses to vets who are licensed by other states, and allows vet techs or clinical staff to give rabies 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.
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 (the simultaneous use of land for both solar generation and agriculture) to include horse boarding breeding and training and provides incentives for agrivoltaics.
Te following bills did not make it over the finish line. In many cases,
failed bills did not have significant opposition, but the leadership’s other priorities meant that time simply ran out for bringing the bills to a vote. Many will be reintroduced next year. A big disappointment was the Helmet Bill (HB 20) - which would
have required minors to wear helmets when riding on certain properties, including facilities for which the primary purpose is recreational, educa- tional, or competitive activities. Tere were some exceptions, including when practicing for or participating in a show or event where helmets are not historically a part. Te bill passed the House and had a hearing in the Senate, where it sat in the Committee. Te bill’s sponsor, Del. Mary Lehman (D-PG) reached out to us and asked that we urge the committee to bring the bill to a vote. We mobi- lized our outreach systems, and asked our members and followers to con- tact the committee. Te bill was promptly voted favorably out of com- mittee and went to the Floor. Unfortunately, only three days were left in the session. Questions and suggested amendments from the Floor ate up time and the bill did not come back up for a final vote before midnight on the final day of the session, even though it was on the schedule for voting on sine die. Del. Lehman has worked hard on this bill for several years, as we are hopeful for next year.
Animal abuse penalties (SB 85/HB 405) - would have Increased pen- alties for criminal neglect that results in the death or euthanasia of an animal, to up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $5000. Also would have permitted a judge to prohibit ownership, possession or residing with an animal for a period determined by the Court.
34 | MAY 2023 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION
Outdoor lighting standards (HB 851) - would have required the De- partment of the Environment to develop standards for outdoor lighting that consider energy consumption, and the environmental, public health, and public safety impacts of outdoor lighting.
Vet student loan forgiveness (HB 1133) - would have provided for pay- ments of up to $20,000 to participants who sign a contract to practice in the State for at least 2 years; and required that participants be selected based on experience, training, and availability to practice in certain high-need areas.
Rodent harborage (HB 841) - would have authorized lawsuits against land owners who allow rodents to exist and proliferate on their property. We asked for an amendment to make clear that an exemption for property “zoned for agricultural use” be broadened to include property where farm- ing is permitted, even if the property is not technically zoned as “agricul- tural.” In our discussions with the Sponsor, Del. Grammer (R-Baltimore County), it became clear to the Sponsor that the language in the bill need- ed more work if it was to accomplish its goals and still take into account the reality of farming operations. Tis is an example of how important it is for the horse industry to have an active and engaged representative in state and local government - in this case preventing a situation where horse barn owners could be sued for having mice on their property.
Agricultural use assessment (SB 418/HB 592) - would have required that improvements to property in support of value added agriculture be assessed as agricultural and not commercial. We were successful in get- ting an amendment to make sure that Equine Activities are included as value added agriculture.
Inheritance tax (HB 100) - would have capped the inheritance tax on agricultural real property that is bequeathed to a “beneficiary of limited means” at the lesser of 10% of the “clear value” of the property OR 20% of the federal adjusted gross income of the beneficiary of limited means for the taxable year in which the decedent died. A beneficiary of limited means was defined as having federal adjusted gross income of not more than $125,000 for an individual or $250,000 for couples filing jointly, surviving spouses or heads of households.
HB 107/SB 59 - would have created a special enrollment window in Maryland’s Health benefit Exchange for persons who take jobs with small employers that do not offer health coverage. Tis bill failed in part because both House and Senate committee counsel noted that such a special en- rollment period would have violated the federal Affordable Care Act.
Electricity for agricultural purposes (SB 640/HB 678) - would have ex- empted electricity used for agricultural purposes from the sales and use tax. Currently, if all of a farm’s electricity is on the same meter as the residence, it is exempt from the sales and use tax. However, if the barns, outbuild- ings, etc., are on separate meters, that electricity is subject to the tax. Te House Ways and Means committee amended the House bill to turn it into a study. Te Senate version retained its original language, with a two year sunset. Both the House and Senate versions crossed over, but the language in each bill differed and would have to be reconciled, the clock ran out.
MHC has a Political Action Committee, which is our way to show our
appreciation to the legislators who listen to and understand our issues, watch out for our interests, and reach out to us when our knowledge, in- put and action is needed. Each Fall, we empty our PAC coffers before the start of the next legislative session to support our legislative supporters. So now that the session is over, it’s time to rebuild our war chest. Please help us continue and improve our advocacy in Annapolis. All
the “legwork” - the writing of testimony, the visits with legislators, the testifying at bill hearings - is done by MHC volunteers. All donations to the MHC PAC will go to the campaigns of legislators who support us. Please donate to the PAC now by clicking on the “Donate” button at
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