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Final Report : April MAWC successful in fighting new DNR regulations in 2008! |
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LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY UPDATE This page will be updated on a regular basis in order for members to have access to current legislative and regulatory information. With three weeks remaining in the 2007 General Assembly session, action is really just beginning on legislation. Also, March 26 is bill crossover date meaning that each chamber will send to the other chamber all bills it plans to pass. This allows enough time for bills to make through the opposite chamber. Following (in bold caps) is an update on bills previously reported upon: SB 49/HB 69, Program Open Space – Attainment of Acquisition Goals – Increased Allocation for Local Government. As long as approved local land preservation and recreation plans have been met and acreage attainment is equal to or exceeds minimum goals under the Maryland Land Preservation and Recreational Plan, local governments would be allowed to use up to 100% (currently they can only use 75%) of their future annual apportionment for projects for five years provided that up to 20% of the funds may be used for capital projects. Committees: Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs; House Environmental Matters. STATUS: SB 49 WAS GIVEN AN UNFAVORABLE REPORT BUT HB 69 HAS PASSED THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. SB 188/HB 632, Harford County – Deer Hunting on Private Lands – Sundays. Several years ago, when Sunday hunting became law, a few counties decided they wanted to opt out. Each subsequent year one or two of those counties have decided to opt in and allow Sunday hunting. This bill will more than likely pass with no opposition since farmers and landowners are suffering crop losses resulting from deer overpopulation. Committees: Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs; House Environmental Matters. STATUS: SB 188 HAD A HEARING ON FEBRUARY 23 AND HB 632 HAS PASSED 2ND READER IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES WHICH MEANS IT SHOULD PASS THE HOUSE SHORTLY AND MOVE OVER TO THE SENATE. SB 341/HB 431, Creation of a State Debt – Montgomery County – Woodstock Equestrian Park would authorize a state debt not to exceed $500,000, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the Board of Trustees of the Montgomery County Parks Foundation, Inc. for the construction of a public equestrian park. Committees: Senate Budget and Taxation; House Appropriations. STATUS: THESE BILLS WERE HEARD ON MARCH 10 ALONG WITH ALL BOND BILLS. NO VOTES HAVE BEEN TAKEN. HB 601, St. Mary’s County-Deer Hunting on Private Property-Sundays, would allow only bow hunting on private property in St. Mary’s County on the last three Sundays in October, the second Sunday in November, and on the second Sunday of the deer firearms season. Committee: House Environmental Matters. STATUS: THIS BILL WAS AMENDED TO ELIMINATE ONE SUNDAY AND IS EXPECTED TO PASS THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES SHORTLY AND MOVE OVER TO THE SENATE. HB 701, Natural Resources-Preservation of Parkland. This bill would require the Governor to increase funding to preserve State forests and parkland. Committee: House Environmental Matters. House Environmental Matters. STATUS: HB 701 HAS ITS COMMITTEE HEARING TODAY, MARCH 19. BECAUSE OF BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, IT PROBABLY WON’T GET OUT OF COMMITTEE. SB 717, Somerset County, Wicomico County, and Worcester County – Deer Hunting on Private Lands – Sundays, is another local bill that would remove these three counties from the list of counties that currently do not allow Sunday firearms deer hunting and would also allow bowhunting on private property the last three Sundays in October, the second Sunday in November, and the second Sunday of the deer firearms season. Currently Dorchester County allows this. Because this bill was introduced after the Senate deadline, it has been assigned to the Senate Rules Committee but will most likely be re-assigned to Education, Health and Environmental Affairs. STATUS: THIS BILL HAD A HEARING ON FEBRUARY 23. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. The Maryland General Assembly’s website, www.mlis.state.md.us, is packed with all sorts of information. You can find status of legislation, bill hearings, legislators’ biographical information, contact information, and much, much more.
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