IMPORTANT BILLS BEFORE THE MARYLAND LEGISLATURE
Future Harvest-CASA's Advocacy Committee wants members in Maryland to be aware of several pieces of legislation pending that would impact sustainable agriculture, the environment and public health in the state. Note the hearing dates on each bill - the time to speak up is now! Our legislators want to hear from all segments of the population, not only the larger agricultural corporations that have the resources to spend time in Annapolis, but also their rural constituents, and producers and consumers of sustainable food. We urge you to follow the links below to learn more about the legislation and to voice your opinion!
TAKE ACTION! Here are steps you can take to weigh in on these issues:
1. Learn more about the legislation by looking up the bill online or contacting the staff contact person listed below.
2. If you’d like to express an opinion, do so by calling, emailing or writing to your 3 state delegates and your state senator. You can find out who they are by using the "Who Are Your Elected Officials?" page on the Maryland General Assembly website.
3. If you feel strongly about any of these issues and want to testify, let the staff contact person know.
4. Forward this list to other community listservs, local health groups, and networks you belong to.
5. Express your opinions to Governor O’Malley, your 2 United States senators and your Congressperson. You can also find them on the "Who Are Your Elected Officials?" page on the Maryland General Assembly website.
PENDING MARYLAND LEGISLATION
Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Act (Fracking)
Sponsors: Delegate Mizeur, Senator Frosh
Staff Contact: Jeremy Crandall,
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, 301-858-3493
Bill #: HB 852, SB 634
House Hearing: February 23, 1:00 PM, ENV
Senate Hearing: March 1st, 1:00 PM, EHEA
Healthy Kids, Healthy Maryland Act (Toxin Database)
Sponsors: Delegate Waldstreicher, Senator Benson
Staff Contact: Ellen Townsend,
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, 301-858-3130
Bill #: HB 759, SB 637
Senate Hearing: February 24th, 1:00 PM, FIN
Schools – Planting and Maintaining Gardens
Sponsors: Delegate Luedtke, Senator Raskin
Staff Contact: Alexis Reed,
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, 301-858-3110
Bill #: HB 528, SB 791
House Hearing: February 24th, 1:00 PM, Ways and Means
Senate Hearing: March 2nd, 1:00 PM, EHEA
Arsenic Prohibition from Poultry Feed
Sponsors: Delegate Hucker, Senator Pinsky
Staff Contact: Dave Kunes,
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, 301-858-3474
Bill #: HB 754, SB 417
Senate Hearing: March 1st, 1:00 PM, ENV
House Hearing: March 2nd, 1:00 PM, ENV
Jane Lawton Farm-to-School Program – Reporting
Sponsors: Delegate Luedtke
Staff Contact: Alexis Reed,
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, 301-858-3110
Bill #: HB 751
House Hearing: March 2nd, 1:00 PM, ENV
Maryland Food and Nutrition Policy Council
Sponsors: Delegate Niemann
Staff Contact:
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, (410) 841-3326
Bill #: HB 441
House Hearing: March 2nd, 1:00 PM, ENV
Regulation of Atrazine
Sponsors: Delegate Frush, Senator Montgomery
Staff Contact: Elaine Flanagan,
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, 301-858-3625
Bill #: HB 659, SB 582
House Hearing: March 2nd, 1:00 PM, ENV
Senate Hearing: March 8th, 1:00 PM, EHEA
Pesticide Notification
Sponsors: Delegate Frush, Senator Montgomery
Staff Contact: Elaine Flanagan,
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, 301-858-3625
Bill #: HB 660, SB 785
House Hearing: March 2nd, 1:00 PM, ENV
Senate Hearing: March 8th, 1:00 PM, EHEA
Watershed Protection and Restoration Act (Stormwater Cleanup Fees)
Sponsors: Delegate Hucker
Staff Contact: Dave Kunes,
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, 301-858-3474
Bill #: HB 1064
House Hearing: March 11th, 1:00 PM, ENV
Advocacy Committee member Michael Tabor (
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) is available for more information on any of these bills, or questions regarding your engagement with your legislators.
Other critical bills to weigh in on include:
1. Tomorrow Delegate Steve Lafferty and Senator Paul Pinksy are expected to introduce a bill titled "Sustainable Growth & Agricultural Protection Act." The Act will implement Governor O'Malley's recent announcement to ban septic systems for major new subdivisions on rural farm land.
2. SB 160/HB 177 - On Site Sewage Disposal Systems - Nitrogen Removal. This will impact any farm installing a new building with water and septic needs.
3. SB 254/HB 676 - Maryland Livestock & Poultry Care Advisory Board. This bill defines the structure of the membership of this Advisory Board and so far does not mandate the inclusion of a sustainable agriculture organization.
4. HB 341 - At Store Recycling- Plastic Carryout Bags. It is unclear at first glance if this would apply to on-farm stores, farmers markets and roadside stands.
5. SB 228 - Agricultural Product Sales - Producer Mobile Farmer's Market License. This bill alters a specified definition to exclude the sale of certain raw agricultural products at a public festival or event from regulation as a food service facility; prohibits a local jurisdiction from requiring a license for the sale of raw agricultural products at a public festival or event; authorizes a producer mobile farmer's market licensee to sell specified products at a public festival or event.
Bills for any state can also be viewed and tracked on http://e-lobbyist.com/.
