Title: Pesticides - Use of Chlorpyrifos - Prohibition
Legal Summary:
Prohibiting the use of chlorpyrifos in the State, including insecticides containing chlorpyrifos and seeds treated with chlorpyrifos; and requiring the Department of Agriculture, with existing budgeted resources, to provide to farmers, certified crop advisors, and pesticide applicators certain education and assistance relating to integrated pest management.
Real Issue:
All out ban on use of C; requires MDA to provide assistance relating to IPM and alternatives to Chlorpyrifos
Hearing Date: 2/12/2020
Suggested Position: Join with peers across MD agriculture to oppose the bill; ornamental horticulture is not a significant user of C, however, members are opposed to removing the option of using this pesticide, when needed. Also question that MDA may be able to provide alternatives and IPM education with “existing” budgeted resources.
Action/Outcome:
Title: Nutrient Management - Professional Fertilizer Applicators - Requirements and Penalties
Legal Summary:
Prohibiting a person from commercially applying fertilizer to certain property unless the person is a professional fertilizer applicator or employs a professional fertilizer applicator; requiring a person that employs a certain professional fertilizer applicator to obtain a certain license for each place of business for which the professional fertilizer applicator provides certain services; and altering the application of a certain civil penalty to include the employer of a person who violates certain provisions of law.
Real Issue:
Requested by MDA - for purpose of adding to the law that a business has a fertilizer applicator license, not just an individual. Right now, regs require a businss to have a fert app license, but it is not in law.
Hearing Date: 2/5/2020
Suggested Position: Follow to make sure no other provisions of the current law are suggested for change
Action/Outcome:
Title: Real Property - Restrictions on Use - Low-Impact Landscaping
Legal Summary:
Prohibiting a certain restriction on use from imposing unreasonable limitations on low-impact landscaping under certain circumstances; providing that the Act may not be construed to prohibit a certain restriction on use from including certain reasonable guidelines regarding the type, number, and location of low-impact landscaping features; and exempting a certain restriction on use on certain historic property from the applicability of the Act.
Real Issue:
Prevents something like an HOA from prohibiting a homeowner to put in a rain garden, etc.
Hearing Date: 2/5/2020
Suggested Position: FYI to members; members may want to support; MNLGA needs more feedback from members as to whether to actively support
Action/Outcome:
FYI Only
Title: Charles County - Public Safety - Buildings Used for Agritourism
Legal Summary:
Adding Charles County to the list of counties where an existing agricultural building used for agritourism is not considered a change of occupancy that requires a building permit under certain circumstances
Real Issue:
Adding Charles County to the list of counties where an existing agricultural building used for agritourism is not considered a change of occupancy that requires a building permit
Hearing Date:
Suggested Position: FYI to members
Action/Outcome:
Title: Secretary of Ag - Weed Control Law
Legal Summary:
Authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into an agreement with a county or other subdivision of the State to conduct surveys and perform other work related to noxious weeds or other plant species within the county or subdivision; providing that the agreement between the Secretary and the county or subdivision of the State may be terminated by either party on 30 days' written notice; and defining "subdivision of the State" to include a soil conservation district.
Real Issue:
Requested by MDA - allows MDA to work with county Soil Conservation Districts to surveys of location and amount of noxious weeds and to provide control and eradication efforts
Hearing Date: 1/16/20
Suggested Position: FYI
Action/Outcome: 1/21/20 – passed in Senate
