| Maryland
Horse Council
Update from
MHC President Steuart Pittman:
*****MHC in Annapolis
Last year MHC was on the offensive and passed two bills that we
conceived of and wrote. This year our role is more defensive. Thanks to our Legislative Committee under the leadership of lobbyist and
lawyer Amy Samman of Furey, Doolan, and Abell LLP, nothing has slipped by us so far.
We testified in support of the bill that would protect the Horse Industry Board's stable licensing program from a raid by the general
fund (SB62). The bill raises licensing fees for stables by $50 per year but our board voted unanimously to support it at our January
meeting as a show of support for the program and to keep state budget cutters out of our programs. Prospects for passage look good.
We have been in negotiations with Delegate Pena-Melnyk over a bill that would require minors to wear helmets when riding on public
property (HB248). MHC supports helmet use but questions the benefits of having the police department as enforcer, especially at horse shows
where some classes do not require approved helmets. If the bill is restricted to public trails, roads and other thoroughfares there is a
possibility that MHC would support the bill.
Amy is also watching progress on the following: a bill that would make it easier for the state to partner with private land preservation
programs, a bill that better defines the role of the MDA secretary in putting farms in quarantine, a bill that would exempt farms in ag
preservation from inheritance taxes, all legislation relating to slots and Maryland racing, and anything else that we think will affect horse
people. A fuller legislative update has been sent to MHC members. Join if you want to follow more closely.
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Many of the issues that
were raised at the Horse Forum have legislative solutions, whether at the
county, state, or federal level. MHC has always maintained an active
legislative committee and at times hired lobbyists to pass specific bills.
We are currently in the
process of growing our legislative committee under the leadership of our
new chair, Amy Krengel Samman. Amy and other committee members happen to
be registered lobbyists and know Annapolis well, but our power to pass
laws has always been a function of our grass roots strength. The primary
function of our legislative committee is to mobilize our full membership
behind our agenda, and to ensure that our proposals are presented clearly
and with political skill.
Knowing our elected
representatives at all levels of government, and making sure that they
know us, is on ongoing task irrespective of our issues. We invite
legislators to our annual meeting in Annapolis and expect to have more
opportunities to interact with them in the future.
Anyone interested in
serving on this committee should contact Amy at aks@fdalaw.com.
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