In Session – Agriculture

Agriculture

Maryland Forestry Education Fund – Establishment

SB0282 (HB0289)
Sponsored by: Senators KingBaileyBensonCarozzaCordermanElfrethGileGuzzoneHettlemanJacksonJenningsKlausmeierKramerMcCrayMcKayRosapepeSalling, and Zucker

Additional Details

Synopsis

Establishing the Maryland Forestry Education Fund to expand and enhance the Maryland Forestry Foundation’s capacity to provide certain education and resources to forest landowners, the ability of district forestry boards and the knowledge of local governments to achieve healthy and sustainable forests, and the ability of businesses to test innovative best management practices in forestry; and requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill $250,000 for the Fund in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

Agriculture

Consumer Protection – Right to Repair – Farm Equipment

(HB0712)
Sponsored by: Delegates HornbergerAndertonBakerEbersoleGhristGriffithHartmanMcComasMillerT. MorganNawrockiOttoPalakovich CarrSchmidtStewartSzeliga, and Tomlinson

Additional Details

Synopsis

Requiring a farm equipment manufacturer to make available certain documentation, updates, or information to an independent repair provider or owner of farm equipment to allow for the diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of the farm equipment; prohibiting a farm equipment manufacturer from knowingly misrepresenting or withholding farm equipment part numbers from a customer for a certain purpose; etc.

Agriculture

Sales and Use Tax – Electricity for Agricultural Purposes

(HB0678)
Sponsored by: Delegates Sample-HughesAdamsArentzFairGhristJacobs, and Otto

Additional Details

Synopsis

Exempting from the sales and use tax the sale of electricity used for agricultural purposes such as raising livestock or poultry, preparing, irrigating, or tending the soil, or planting, maintaining, or transporting seeds or crops.

Agriculture

Agriculture – Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens in Commercial Egg Production – Prohibitions

SB0690
Sponsored by: Senator Lewis Young

Additional Details

Synopsis

Prohibiting a certain farm owner or operator from knowingly confining egg-laying hens in an enclosure in a certain manner, subject to certain exceptions, on and after January 1, 2025; prohibiting a business owner or operator or a farm owner or operator from selling shell eggs or egg products under certain circumstances on and after January 1, 2025; and specifying that a certain certification be obtained in a certain manner to sell shell eggs and egg products.

Agriculture

Sales and Use Tax – Electricity for Agricultural Purposes – Exemption

SB0640
Sponsored by: Senator Jackson

Additional Details

Synopsis

Providing an exemption from the sales and use tax for the sale of electricity used for agricultural purposes under certain circumstances.

Agriculture

Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Eligible Sources – Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2023)

SB0590 (HB0718)
Sponsored by: Senator Lewis Young

Additional Details

Synopsis

Altering the definitions of “qualifying biomass”, “thermal biomass system”, and “Tier 1 renewable source” for purposes of excluding energy derived from certain forest-related resources, animal manure, waste, and refuse and gas produced from the anaerobic decomposition of animal waste or poultry waste from being eligible for inclusion in the renewable energy portfolio standard.

Agriculture

Oysters – Rotational Harvest – Pilot Program

SB0492 (HB0932)
Sponsored by: Senators CarozzaHersheyMautz, and Bailey

Additional Details

Synopsis

Establishing the rotational harvest pilot program for oysters to be implemented by the Department of Natural Resources; requiring the Department to open certain areas of the Chesapeake Bay to the rotational harvest of oysters in certain manners; requiring the Department, before opening an area to oyster harvesting under the pilot program, to survey and investigate the area to collect certain baseline data and, after closing the area, to continue to monitor the area to collect certain additional data; etc.

Agriculture

Property Tax – Agricultural Land and Improvements – Assessment

SB0418 (HB0592)
Sponsored by: Senators ElfrethHesterFeldmanGileGuzzoneJacksonKing, and Zucker

Additional Details

Synopsis

Providing that value-added agricultural activities are a farm or agricultural use of land for assessment purposes; creating a subclass of real property consisting of improvements on an actively used farm that support value-added agricultural activities; requiring improvements on an actively used farm that support value-added agricultural activities to be assessed at the agricultural use rate; etc.

Agriculture

Department of Agriculture – State Specialist for Value-Added Agriculture

SB0034 (HB0389)
Sponsored by: Senators Hester and Gallion

Additional Details

Synopsis

Establishing the State Specialist for Value-Added Agriculture as a position in the Department of Agriculture to serve as the primary point of contact for individuals engaging in, or interested in engaging in, value-added agriculture in the State, etc.