Contact: Valerie Connelly or Kurt Fuchs
(410) 269-0656        (410) 269-0081 – fax

No. 8  3/9/06

Bills of interest to Farm Bureau scheduled for hearing:

The House Appropriations Committee will hear bond bills beginning at 9am in room 120 of the New House Office Building.  The Senate Budget & Taxation Committee will hear bills as well in 3 West of the Miller Building. The following ag related bills are scheduled:

H.B. 736 – $100,000 for the Washington County Rural Heritage Transportation Museum  (9am)

H.B. 1591/ S.B. 987- $1,000,000 for the Talbot Ag Service Center (9am in House, 10 in Senate)

H.B. 1366/ S.B. 474 - $1.4 million for the Chesapeake Fields' Millington Project in Kent Co. (10am in House, 9am in Senate)

H.B. 562/ S.B. 527 – $20,000 for the Somerset County Ag Center (11am in House, 10am in Senate)  MARYLAND FARM BUREAU POLICY SUPPORTS ALL BOND BILLS FOR AGRICULTURAL CENTERS OR BUILDINGS.

S.B. 669/ H.B. 1556 – State Property Tax Credit – Dwellings –Senator Garagiola/ Delegate Hixson

BUDGET AND TAXATION, 3 West Miller, Tuesday at 1:00pm

WAYS AND MEANS, 130 NHOB, Wednesday at 1:00pm

This bill is intended to eliminate the state portion of property tax on a residential dwelling for the first $50,000 of assessed value of the property for the tax year beginning on July 1, 2006.  The current state rate of property tax is 13.1 cents per $100 in value.  The majority of property tax is collected by the county government.  This bill does not alter the county’s share of property tax.  FOR INFORMATION ONLY

S.B. 844 - Protected Lands - Local Land Use Applications - County Authority  - Senator Dyson

ED., HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, 2 West Miller, Tuesday at 1:00pm

This bill would allow a county or municipal corporation to deny applications for local land use when the land is protected through conservation programs within the Department of Natural Resources.  Applications that may be denied include those for a subdivision plat or plan, a residential building permit, or for any other nonagricultural use or activity (including an access road).  These protected lands include those within a Rural Legacy Area, under conservation easement, or within a project under Program Open Space.  FOR INFORMATION ONLY

S.B. 875 - Montgomery County - Deer Hunting on Private Lands - Sundays  - Senator Garagiola

ED., HEALTH AND ENVIRON. AFFAIRS, 2 West Miller, Tuesday at 1:00pm

This bill would add Montgomery County to the list of counties that allow the hunting of deer on Sunday.  The following counties currently allow deer hunting on the first Sunday of bow season and the first Sunday of the firearms season, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Talbot, and Washington.  This bill would also require the Department of natural Resources to conduct a study by December 31, 2007 to verify the effects of Sunday hunting as a means of reducing the deer population and reducing the threat to public health and safety posed by an overpopulation of deer.  MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARM BUREAU SUPPORTS S.B. 875.

S.B. 902/ H.B. 1487 - Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund – Senator Middleton and Delegate Conway

EDUCATION, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, 2 West Miller, Tuesday at 1:00pm
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, 250 NHOB, Thursday at 1:00pm

This bill creates the Rural Maryland Prosperity Fund, which will be administered by the Rural Maryland Council.  The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance to rural regional and statewide planning and development organizations, institutions of higher education serving rural communities, rural community development organizations and local governments acting in partnership with one another to promote the quality of life in rural areas.  The bill authorizes the Governor to provide funding beginning in Fiscal Year 2008 through FY 2020.  The Fund would be allocated equally among 4 categories: (1) regional councils, (2) infrastructure projects, (3) entrepreneurial development and (4) the programmatic & education efforts of MAERDAF and the Rural Maryland Council.  Funds may be used by RMC for administrative costs.  Grant recipients must document use of funds and the Rural MD Council must file an annual report to the Governor.  MARYLAND FARM BUREAU SUPPORTS S.B. 902 & H.B. 1487.

H.B. 1341 / S.B. 864- Northern Chesapeake Bay Bridge Crossing with Terminus in Kent County - Prohibition on Planning, Financing, and Construction  - Delegate Walkup/ Senator Pipkin

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, 250 NHOB, Tuesday at 1:00pm

FINANCE, 3 East Miller, Wednesday at 1:00pm

This bill prohibits any new Chesapeake Bay crossing that terminates in Kent County.  FOR INFORMATION ONLY

H.B. 579 – Sales and Use Tax – Thoroughbred Race Horses – Maryland-Bred Race Fund- Delegate Glassman

WAYS AND MEANS, 130 NHOB, Tuesday at 1:00pm

This bill requires that a portion of the sales tax collected on the sale of thoroughbred race horses at claiming races be deposited in the Maryland Bred Fund.  MFB SUPPORTS H.B. 579.

H.B. 759 – State Lottery Proceeds – Maryland Standardbred Race Fund and MD-bred Race Fund – Delegate Rudolph and Patterson

WAYS AND MEANS, 130 NHOB, Tuesday at 1:00pm

 This bill establishes a number of special instant ticket games sufficient to generate at least $5 million annually, to be shared by the MD Standardbred Race Fund and the MD-Bred Race Fund.  Money will be distributed to the two funds proportionately, based on the 3-year average of the number of standardbred and thoroughbred foals born and registered in the state.  The bill authorizes the Governor to provide additional funding in the annual budget from FY 2007 through FY 2011 if the lottery does not provide $10 million for the Bred Funds.  The bill mandates that the most the Bred Funds may receive from the lottery and/or state appropriations is $15 million.  MARYLAND FARM BUREAU SUPPORTS H.B. 759.

H.B. 891 - Sales and Use Tax Revenues - Equine Feed Supplements and Supplies – Delegate Jennings

WAYS AND MEANS, 130 NHOB, Tuesday at 1:00pm

After making certain required distributions, this bill requires the Comptroller to distribute the sales and use tax collected on equine feed supplements and supplies in the following manner:  75% to the Maryland Bred Fund and 25% to the Standardbred Fund.  The bill also creates a 12 member Equine Use committee to determine which products will be categorized as equine feed supplements & supplies.  The bill also requires the Comptroller to provide grants of up to $2500 for a vendor who lacks the equipment to account electronically for differences in categories of sales to purchase the necessary equipment.  FOR INFORMATION ONLY

H.B. 903 - Thoroughbred Racing - Maryland-Bred Fund Races - Out-of-State Tracks – Delegate Gilleland

WAYS AND MEANS, 130 NHOB, Tuesday at 1:00pm

This bill allows the running of a Maryland-Bred Fund race to be held a track out of the state of Maryland.  The MD Racing Commission would determine the location of each race held outside of the state.  MARYLAND FARM BUREAU SUPPORTS H.B. 903.

S.B. 864 on the Bay Bridge Crossing and H.B. 1556 on the State Property Tax for Dwellings are being heard on Wednesday and the details for each are listed with the crossfiled bills being heard on Tuesday.

H.B. 629 – Labor and Employment – Licensing – Penalties for Employment of Undocumented Aliens  - Delegate Moe

ECONOMIC MATTERS, 230 NHOB, Thursday at 1:00pm

This bill establishes state penalties for employers who are sanctioned by the federal government for employing undocumented aliens in violation of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.  For a first violation, a person’s license, certification, permit, registration or charter that is issued by a unit of state government shall be suspended for a period of 6 months.  Subsequent violations will lead to permanent revocation.  Under current law “employ” means engaging an individual to work, allowing an individual to work and instructing an individual to be present at a work site.  MARYLAND FARM BUREAU OPPOSES H.B. 629.

H.B. 1583 - Vehicle Laws - Exceptional Hauling Permits - Forestry Products – Delegate Edwards

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, 250 NHOB, Thursday at 1:00pm

This bill allows the State Highway Administration to issue an exceptional hauling permit for vehicles carrying forest products that are loaded in the field or other off-highway location.  Hauling vehicles must have 6 axles and a front-to-rear centerline axle spacing of not less than 50 feet.  The permit will allow vehicles carrying forest products a maximum 20,000 lbs gross weight on a single axle, an 87,000 lb gross combination weight and a load limit tolerance of 1000 lbs for GCW and 15% for axle weights.  FOR INFORMATION ONLY

S.B. 1013 – Maryland Growth Management Act of 2006 – Senator Pinsky

EDUCATION, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, 2 West Miller, Thursday at 1:00pm

This bill allows a county and municipal corporation to enter into a Joint Planning Agreement to coordinate future growth both inside and outside of established growth boundaries.  The bill requires that any development outside of established growth boundaries must receive approval from the state Department of Planning.  Maryland Farm Bureau opposes the provision giving MD DOP authority over local zoning decisions.  MFB is also concerned that farmers and their children will experience significant delay and more expense when trying to build a home on the farm.  MFB SUPPORTS THE CONCEPT OF A JOINT PLANNING AGREEMENT BUT OPPOSES PROVISIONS IN S.B. 1013 THAT GIVE MD DOP APPROVAL AUTHORITY OVER BUILDING ON FARMLAND. 

H.B. 318 – Public Education Bridge to Excellence and Public School Construction Act – by request of the Governor
WAYS AND MEANS, 1^st floor NHOB

This bill authorizes up to 15,500 Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) at 6 locations in MD.  4 VLT facilities would be located at tracks (Laurel, Pimlico, Rosecroft & Allegany Co.) and 2 other facilities would be at off-track locations in PG, Howard, Baltimore City, Baltimore Co., Harford or Cecil Counties.  The proceeds from the VLTs would be paid as follows:  5% to the State Lottery Agency, up to 36% to the licensee, 5% to a local development grant in the county where the VLT facility is located, 5.1% to the Purse Dedication Account and the remainder to the Education Trust Fund.  The licensing fee would be $3 million per 500 VLTs.  MARYLAND FARM BUREAU SUPPORTS H.B. 318.

H.B. 205 – Anne Arundel County – Deer Hunting on Private Lands – Sunday – Delegate Costa

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, 250 NHOB, Friday at 1:00pm

This bill would add Anne Arundel County to the list of counties that allow the hunting of deer on Sunday.  The following counties currently allow deer hunting on Sunday, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Talbot, and Washington.  ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY FARM BUREAU SUPPORTS H.B. 205.

H.B. 1207 - Natural Resources - Hunting Wild Waterfowl - Harford and Baltimore Counties – HA & BA Co. Delegations

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, 250 NHOB, Friday at 1:00pm

This bill would include the waters of Baltimore and Harford counties in those waterways in the state where a person may hunt waterfowl 400 yards from shore while standing on the bottom, or from a boat that is anchored, drifting or being sculled.  Unless specified, the minimal distance to hunt waterfowl offshore is 800 yards.  FOR INFORMATION ONLY

H.B. 1611- Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - State Dairy Industry Oversight and Advisory Council – Delegate Stull

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, 250 NHOB, Friday at 1:00pm

This bill creates the State Dairy Industry Oversight and Advisory Council to promote the state dairy industry.  The Council is housed at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.  There will be 13 members of the Council, including: 1 rep from MD Farm Bureau, 1 from MDIA, 1 milk producer who is not affiliated with and ag group or association, 1 milk hauler, 1 rep from a commercial lab that tests milk samples, 3 milk processors, 3 reps from milk marketing cooperatives,  and 2 consumers who are not affiliated with the industry.  There will also be nonvoting representatives from the House & Senate, MDA, DHMH, a local Health Department and MD Cooperative Extension.  Members will serve 3 year terms and are limited to 2 terms.  The Council is charged with investigating ways to improve the economic viability of the dairy industry, developing strategies for sustaining the industry, evaluating the regulatory structure and more.  MARYLAND FARM BUREAU SUPPORTS H.B. 1611.

 
The Hotline will be posted on the MFB website at the end of each week.  Our website address is www.mdfarmbureau.com.  The Maryland General Assembly’s website can also serve as a valuable tool for legislative information.  The Home Page offers the proceedings and agendas of the House and Senate, hearing schedules, bill information and status, and other data about the Maryland General Assembly.  Plus, there are links available to other related websites.  The website is updated nightly, and may be accessed at www.mlis.state.md.us .