During the Legislative Session, the Maryland Department of Agriculture follows many bills that may impact the agency and the customers it serves.
If MDA provides written testimony for any bill, that testimony will be posted below after the hearing, if not sooner. To read individual bills, fiscal notes and to obtain complete information about hearings and voting sessions, visit the Maryland General Assembly Website.
Agricultural Briefings
Sec. Joe Bartenfelder
Jan. 22, 2019
Secretary Joe Bartenfelder
Jan. 24, 2019
Departmental Bills
HB 1353 - Department of Agriculture - Agriculture - Nuisance Insects
March 12, 2019
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Legislative Comment
HB 50 - Department of Agriculture - Maryland Produce Safety Program
February 6, 2019
Committee: Environment and Transportation
SB 25 - Real Property – Conservation Easements, Covenants, Restrictions and Conditions – Recording Notice
Committee: Judicial Proceedings
Jan. 22, 2019
SB 56 -
Secretary of Agriculture - Regulation of Poultry to Protect Animal Health and Control Avian Influenza
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
SB 57 -
Agriculture - County Agricultural Land Preservation Programs
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Jan. 22, 2019
SB 58 -
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation - Elimination of District Agreements
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Jan. 22, 2019
Bill Testimony
Any testimony that the department submits for or against a bill this legislative session will be posted below on or shortly after the day of the hearing on that bill.
SB 132 (Cross-filed with
HB 80) - Horse Racing at Fair Hill - Union Hosptial Allocation - Repeal
Committee: Budget and Taxation
Feb. 6, 2019
HB 275 -
Pesticides - Use of Chlorpyrifos - Prohibition
Feb. 13, 2019
Committee: Environment and Transportation
HB 403 -
Income Tax Credit - Qualified Farms - Food Donation Pilot Program - Expansion and Extension
Feb. 13, 2019
Committee: Ways and Means
SB 446 - Public Safety - Agritourism - Permit Exemption
Feb. 19, 2019
HB 808 - Weed Control - Noxious Weeds - Regulations and Penalties
Feb. 22, 2019
Committee: Environment and Transportation
SB 749 -
Medical Cannabis - Pesticide Use - Labeling and Study
Feb. 26, 2019
Committee: Judicial Proceedings
HB 518 - Public Safety - Agritourism - Permit Exception
Feb. 27, 2019
Committee: Environment and Transportation
HB 652 - Agriculture - Use of Antimicrobial Drugs - Limitations and Reporting Requirements
Feb. 27, 2019
Committee: Environment and Transportation
HB 935 - Agricultural Land Preservation Easements - Use of Land - Signs Forbidding Tresspassing, Hunting, or the Destruction of Property
Feb. 27, 2019
Committee: Environment and Transportation
HB 1008 - Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation - Valuation of Easement
Feb. 27, 2019
Committee: Environment and Transportation
SB 270 - Pesticides - Use of Chlorpyrifos - Prohibition
Feb. 27, 2019
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
SB 471 - Agriculture - Use of Antimicrobial Drugs - Limitations and Reporting Requirements
Feb. 27, 2019
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
SB 546 - Agriculture - Nutrient Management - Monitoring and Enforcement
Feb. 27, 2019
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
HB 815 -
Agriculture - Milk and Milk-based Products - Labeling
March 1, 2019
Committee: Environment and Transportation
HB 1123 - Agriculture - Hemp Research and Production
March 1, 2019
Committee: Environment and Transportation
March 12, 2019
SB978 - Real Property - Agricultural Land Preservation Easements - Separate Parcels
March 13, 2019
Committee: Judicial Proceedings
