Maryland Greenhouse Growers Association Legislative Update!

Top view current information please visit MD General Assembly website Click on bill info and status. Then type in the bill number with the format HB or SB followed by the bill number.

The following is a synopsis of bills, and legislative outcomes, that the Maryland Green Industry Council monitored and/or influenced this year, on behalf of its members.

MaGIC Synopsis - February 8, 2008

• SB 758 - Property Tax - Agricultural Use Assessment.

  This bill provides that property used as a migrant labor camp shall be considered actively used for farming and qualifies for valuation and assessment for property tax purposes based on its agricultural use under specified ircumstances; and applying the Act to tax years beginning after June 30, 2009.
  This bill was introduced in 2007, but was never acted upon.
  Hearing date: Not set, yet.
  MaGIC position: Recommend supporting.
  
  

• HB 764- Income Tax Credit - Organic Fertilizer.

  For the purpose of providing that a certain certification program for organic agricultural commodities under the State Department of Agriculture include organic fertilizer; allowing a credit against the State income tax for a certain amount of the purchase price of certain fertilizers; limiting the amount of the credit; defining certain terms; providing for the application of this Act; and generally relating to a credit against the State income tax for the purchase of certain fertilizers.
  Hearing date: Not set, yet.
  MaGIC position: Not yet determined.
  
  

• HB 446 - Admissions and Amusement Tax - Exemption for Activities Related to Agricultural Tourism.

  For the purpose of providing that a county may exempt from the admissions and amusement tax gross receipts from any admissions and amusement charge for any activities related to agricultural tourism; and generally relating to exemptions from the admissions and amusement tax. This bill was introduced in 2007, as HB 621, but was not acted upon. Hearing date: February 13
  MaGIC position: Not determined, yet.
  
  

MaGIC Synopsis - January 31, 2008

• HB 328 - Program Open Space - Use of Funds - Artificial Turf Surfaces.

  This bill seed to prohibit the use of specified funds under Program Open Space to replace specified existing natural grass athletic fields with specified artificial turf surfaces.
  Hearing date: February 6
  MaGIC position: None, yet.
  
  

• SJ 2 Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the National Agricultural Library.

  This bill describes and expresses the support of the Maryland General Assembly for the research and education programs of the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) and the National Agricultural Library (NAL); urging the Governor to request increased funding for BARC and NAL; etc.
  Hearing date: February 12
  MaGIC position: Support.
  
  

• HB 713 and SB 275 - Creation of a State Debt - Baltimore County - The Baltimore County Center for MD Agriculture.

  This bill authorizes the creation of a State Debt not to exceed $1,500,000, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the County Executive and County Council of Baltimore County for the construction of an agricultural resource center and farm park, located in Hunt Valley; providing for disbursement of the loan proceeds, subject to a requirement that the grantee provide and expend a matching fund; establishing a deadline for the encumbrance or expenditure of the loan proceeds; etc.
  Hearing date:
  MaGIC position: Recommended - FYI only.
  
  

• SB 213 - Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund and Nonpoint Source Fund.

  This bill alters the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund and its purposes; providing for the uses of the Fund; establishing in statute the BayStat Program and BayStat Subcabinet; requiring the Program to distribute funds from the Trust Fund to the BayStat Subcabinet agencies; requiring the BayStat Subcabinet agencies to redistribute the funds through grants to various entities and to the Chesapeake Bay Nonpoint Source Fund; etc.
  Hearing date: February 6
  MaGIC position: FYI only.
  
  

• HB 466 - Environment - Water Pollution Control Fund - Fertilizer Application Environmental Impact Fee.

  This bill establishes a fertilizer application environmental impact fee for specified fertilizer applications; establishing the amount of the fee to be 10 percent of the total cost of fertilizer application; requiring a fertilizer applicator to charge the fee to specified customers, subject to specified exceptions; requiring the Comptroller to deposit the fees into the Water Pollution Control Fund; specifying uses related to stormwater management for revenues derived from the fees; etc.
  Hearing date: February 19
  MaGIC position: None, yet
  
  

• HB 521 Agriculture - Specialty Fertilizers - "No Phosphorus Fertilizer."

  This bill requires specified specialty fertilizer to be marked with specified words in a specified manner; prohibiting a person from using, selling, manufacturing, or distributing for use or sale in the State a specified specialty fertilizer on or after April 1, 2009; and defining terms.
  Hearing date: February 19
  MaGIC position: None, yet
  
  

  MaGIC Synopsis - January 27, 2008

• HB 208 and SB 419- Agriculture - Seed and Nursery Stock for Native Plants - Funding.

  This bill seeks to require the MD Dept of Agriculture to increase awareness of native plants, provide grants, etc. to increasing the availability of seed and nursery stock for certain native plants; establishes the Maryland Native Plants Program; requires the Governor to fund the program, beginning in 2010 with $150,000 annually.
  Hearing Date: Wednesday, February 6th
  MaGIC position: No position will be taken
  
  

• HB 209 - State Government - Commemorative Weeks - Pollinator Week.

  This bill seeks to have the Governor annually proclaim the last week of June as Pollinator Week.
  Hearing date: February 20
  MaGIC position: FYI only
  
  

• HB 307 - Task Force on a Statewide Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Initiative.

  This bill establishes a Task Force on a Statewide Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Initiative; establishing the membership and staffing of the Task Force; requiring the Governor to designate the chair of the Task Force; authorizing the Task Force to establish subcommittees; requiring the Task Force to evaluate and make recommendations to improve the State's erosion and sediment control and stormwater management regulations and programs; etc.
  Hearing date: February 6
  MaGIC position: FYI only
  
  

• SB 213 - Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund and Nonpoint Source Fund.

  Altering the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund and its purposes; providing for the uses of the Fund; establishing in statute the BayStat Program and BayStat Subcabinet; requiring the Program to distribute funds from the Trust Fund to the BayStat Subcabinet agencies; requiring the BayStat Subcabinet agencies to redistribute the funds through grants to various entities and to the Chesapeake Bay Nonpoint Source Fund; etc.
  Hearing date: Wednesday, February 6th
  MaGIC position: FYI only
  
  

• SB 246 and HB 447 Agriculture - Fertilizer - Phosphorus Content Reduction.

  This bill sets restrictions and requirements on fertilizer labeling, hence mostly affects manufacturers. This bill mandates that a fertilizer with a phosphorus content greater than 5% may not be labeled for use on established lawns or grass and shall be marked with the words "Not for use on established lawns or grass" in at least a ¾ inch font. The bill also prohibits the sale, use, or distribution of any fertilizer for established lawns or grass in Maryland after April 1, 2010, nless it is low phosphorus fertilizer. And after April 1, 2010, fertilizer manufacturers are required to reduce by 50% from 2006 levels, the amount of hosphorus resulting
  Hearing date: HB 447 - February 19; SB 246 - no date yet set
  MaGIC position: Not yet determined - Note - MAGI is working closely on this issue and will advise.
  
  

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