March 2026 Government Relations Report

by Jane Seigler, Co-Chair, MHC Government Relations Committee

–first published in the March 2026 issue of The Equiery

As I write this, we are approximately one third of the way through the (1/14-4/13) legislative session in Annapolis. By the time you read this, the Session will be half over. The deadlines for introducing new bills in the ordinary course have passed (almost 2600 bills have been introduced). It is not impossible for new bills to be introduced at this point, but the chance of passage is very slim — but, again, not impossible if serious strings are pulled.

Update from last month’s report

SB 37

Alters the 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. The bill passed the Senate and has crossed over to begin the process in the House.

New bills since last month’s report

HB 359

Deletes the five-acre limit from the definition of “urban agricultural property” and adds “raising livestock” and “agricultural education and agri-tourism” for the purpose of determining eligibility for a property tax credit. MHC supports.

SB 453/HB 911

Authorizes Arabian horse racing at Laurel Park. It is currently authorized at Pimlico. This would allow these races to take place at Laurel while Pimlico is closed for reconstruction. MHC supports.

SB 643/HB 1063

Creates a three year pilot program, starting on July 1, 2027, that transfers authority over Sunday hunting from the state legislature to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR);

provides that DNR cannot allow fewer Sunday hunting days than those that existed at the start of the program; allows Sunday hunting on all state public land (except state parks). It also creates a new type of deer management permit for properties of at least 10 acres, where Sunday hunting would be allowed every day year-round except within 25 yards of DNR-designated equestrian trails; in many counties that have a 10:30 am cutoff for Sunday hunting, adds a second hunting window from 3:00 pm to sunset; generally allows Sunday hunting for migratory game birds; and adds Sunday hunting for Canada Geese (Atlantic population) for certain classes of hunters. MHC opposes.

HB 780

Removes the 10:30 am cut off time for Wicomico County Sunday Hunting. MHC opposes.

HB 887

Alters, for 2027 through 2029, the distribution of proceeds from slots by requiring $200,000 of local impact grants distributed to Cecil County to be used for purses offered for certain races held at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area. MHC supports.

HB 1502

Authorizes the sale of “consumer fireworks,” which are currently prohibited in Maryland. Prohibits use within 150 feet of a barn or pasture; requires 72 hours notice to owner of a barn or pasture within 150 to 300 feet. MHC opposes.

HB 1554

Requires a study and report to the General Assembly by December 15, 2026, on exempting from the sales and use tax 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; and requiring the report to include an estimate of the fiscal impact of the exemption. MHC supports.

Other new bills we are following

HB 447

Proposes a constitutional amendment to preserve the right to hunt and fish, and adds a “finding” in the statute that “fishing and hunting are preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife in the State.” This bill was referred to the Rules Committee, and will have to be voted out of that committee and then sent to the committee of subject matter jurisdiction before it can move.

SB 565/HB 1215

Prohibits the state from selling Shamrock Farms in Woodbine, (which the state purchased for $4.5 million to use as the Thoroughbred Training Center, only to discover problems with the property that make it unusable for that purpose), unless the sale is to Carroll County and must be for at least the original purchase price.

SB 639/HB 1240

Authorizes “Historical Horse Racing,” (a form of electronic gambling that allows players to bet on replays of horse races that have already been run, using terminals that typically resemble slot machines) at certain locations.

SB 704

Exempts certain transfers of agricultural property from portions of Maryland’s estate tax.

SB 630/HB 1244

Authorizes the owner of residential property to bring an action for damages incurred as a result of the value of the property being diminished by the use of eminent domain to take property and construct an overhead transmission line within 300 feet of the property owner’s residence, including attorney’s fees.

SB 861/HB 1071

Requires the Department of the Environment to adopt regulations and a model ordinance that require local stormwater management programs to enforce stormwater management regulations on agricultural land, with the advice and consent of the local soil conservation district.

March 2026 Government Relations Report

Update from last month’s report

SB 37