by Jane Seigler, Co-Chair MHC Government Relations Committee

–first published in the February 2026 issue of The Equiery

The 449th Session of the Maryland General Assembly convened Wednesday, January 14, at noon. It is an election year, which typically means that the legislators tend to play it safe and avoid, as much as they can, controversial proposals.

This is not a typical election year, however. The legislators have a lot of thorny issues on their plates: a $1.4 billion deficit, affordable housing and health care, energy costs, data centers, federal funding cuts and job losses, and more. As always, the hardworking volunteer members of the Horse Council’s Government Relations Committee will be keeping a close eye on the legislative goings on, and will be ready to advocate strongly for the interests of Maryland’s horses, horse farms, horse people and horse businesses.

We will be reporting regularly on what you need to know, and what you might want to do, about pending legislation during the Session, which will end on April 13. There will be a summary report in each print issue of The Equiery, but also keep an eye out for Facebook posts, The Equiery website updates, and e-blasts when time-sensitive issues emerge. Also, you can watch all Floor proceedings and committee hearings at mgaleg.maryland.gov.

Here are some bills that have been introduced so far that we watching closely and acting on, where appropriate. Please note that our description below is a summary for your convenience. Please read the full text of the bill if you think it may affect you. Go to mgaleg.maryland.gov and enter the bill number in the search box in the upper-right.

HB 186

Allows statewide Sunday bow hunting of deer and turkey in deer and turkey seasons (and using a weapon other than a bow and arrow in certain counties in Spring turkey season). Notably, it would allow this Sunday hunting in Baltimore, Howard, and PG counties, and Baltimore City, where no Sunday hunting at all has ever been allowed. As of this writing, a senior official at DNR could not explain what a “hunting device other than a bow and arrow” is. MHC opposes.

HB 225

Extends the life of the Maryland Horse Industry Board until 2036. MHC supports.

SB 231/HB 228

Imposes criminal penalties on a person who slaughters, or causes to be slaughtered, a racehorse in Maryland for commercial purposes; prohibits a person from purchasing, selling, transferring, offering for sale, importing into the State, or transporting a racehorse if the person knows or reasonably should know that the racehorse will be slaughtered for certain commercial purposes.

The bill defines “racehorse” as a horse bred or intended for racing, or has produced or sired a horse intended for racing, or a horse that: has been recorded on the backstretch, has had an official work, or horse that has raced at a pari-mutuel track.

The bill is not breed specific; it would cover racing Arabians, racing Quarter Horses, and racing Standardbreds.

MHC supports the original version, as we have a longstanding policy opposing slaughter for all horses. The bill will likely be amended, but the text of amendments was not available as of this writing

Other Bills We Are Following

SB 111/HB 212

Imposes a fine of $7 per day for up to 60 days for Maryland resident-owned vehicles that are improperly registered in another state. Notably, many Maryland residents register their horse trailers in Maine to avoid Maryland fees.

SB 4

Conforms the language of state law to the existing federal rule against political activity by 501(c)(3) charities.

SB 37

Alters language in the service animal program law that allows the disqualification of a participant in a non-profit training program by changing “danger” to a therapy horse’s physical and emotional wellbeing to “direct threat.” The term “direct threat” has a statutory definition in the Americans with Disabilities Act

SB 54

Prohibits disciplinary actions by the State Vet Board against veterinarians “solely on the basis” of the licensee “discussing or recommending the use of cannabis or a product that contains cannabinoid . . . for potential therapeutic effect or health supplementation benefits.

SB 69/HB 147

Repeals the sunset provision in the law enacted last year creating a “Charity Navigator” to help nonprofits navigate state grant programs, etc.

SB 211

Repeal of the Maryland estate tax.

HB 78

Authorizes a county to establish subclasses of real property consisting of land and improvements to land and to set separate real property tax rates for each subclass

HB 122

Prohibits state from providing grants, etc., to nonprofits that are not in good standing or that are not up-to-date on their tax returns, or to nonprofits that don’t have a charter on file with SDAT.

HB 175

Repeals the $300 cap on the maximum amount of an income tax credit for donated venison.