Details of proposed federal legislation on drug use in racehorses

Here, courtesy of thehorse.com, is info about this new proposed legislation to regulate drug use in racehorses.

Annapolis Legislative Session Wrap-up

The dust has fully settled on this year's legislative session in Annapolis. Here is the final outcome of the bills MHC has been following:


SB819/HB1156 These bills would codify Maryland’s current contributory negligence liability standard, ensuring that the contributing fault of an injured party can be asserted as a defense in a lawsuit. The law would only go into effect in the event that a pending court decision strikes down the current standard (which is generally favorable to horse owners and horse business operators). DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE
HB1182 This bill freezes the current law, and creates a commission, largely composed of legislators, to study it. DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE
MHC supported these bills.

SB37/HB865 These bills authorize a court to order a defendant convicted of a specified charge of animal cruelty, as a condition of sentencing, to pay, in addition to any other fines and costs, all reasonable costs incurred in removing, housing, treating, or euthanizing an animal confiscated from the defendant. Favorable report from Senate; did not make it out of House Committee. MHC supported these bills.

SB 820/HB767 These bills create a state fund to support programs to spay/neuter dogs and cats. The bills provide that the fund will be partially supported by a surcharge on “commercial feeds.” MHC has requested an amendment that the surcharge be applied only on dog and cat feeds, as horse feeds are already subjected to a fee that supports the MD Horse Industry Board. BILL AMENDED TO LIMIT TO DOG AND CAT FEED; PASSED

HB 1440 This bill makes clear that “compost” is not part of the solid waste stream, and authorizes the Department of the Environment to draft regulations governing compost facilities. MHC is exploring possible future programs that would facilitate composting of horse manure, and is working to ensure input into the MDE drafting process. PASSED

SB 1029 This bill creates a volunteer program within the Department of Agriculture, administered in cooperation with the Department of Environment, to recognize the environmental stewardship and contribution of Maryland farmers who implement and maintain best management practices consistent with the state’s goals of reducing the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment entering the Chesapeake Bay and other waters of the state. This bill essentially codifies, formalizes and makes somewhat more stringent the current Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP), currently operated by the MD Association of Soil Conservation Districts. MHC’s Farm Stewardship Committee has been working to include more horse farms in the FSCAP program. PASSED

Hunting bills. MHC has consistently opposed allowing weapons hunting on Sundays on public or private lands, as this creates an unacceptable risk for other users.
SB 2/HB66 Dorchester County, turkey hunting, Sundays on public land. PASSED
SB24/HB214 Queen Anne’s, deer hunting, Sundays on private lands. PASSED
HB 543 Carroll, deer hunting, Sundays on private lands. PASSED
HB365 PASSED, HB366 UNFAVORABLE REPORT, HB671 DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE These were bills to reduce bow hunting buffer zones.
MHC has consistently opposed extending hunting to Sundays on public or private land, and will be working with other stakeholders to develop strategies to address this issue in the next legislative session.

Racing bills
SB858 Ejections from race tracks - appeals. UNFAVORABLE REPORT
SB 961 This bill will help determine the future of the Bowie Race Course Training Center. PROVISIONS REGARDING BOWIE WERE STRICKEN FROM THE BILL. PASSED
HB1503 This bill increases to $150,000 the amount of the annual grant from the Purse Dedicated Fund to Fair Hill. UNFAVORABLE REPORT

Other bills of interest

HB 1282 This bill establishes an Agricultural Land Condemnation Board to hold public meetings to consider proposed State and local condemnations of prime and productive farmland for “environmental mitigation purposes” and to issue written decisions on whether to approve proposed condemnations. DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE

SB427/HB796 These bills allow a credit against the State income tax for the diminution in value of specified agricultural land resulting from enactment of the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012 and adoption of specified regulations related to nutrient management. DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE

HB378 This bill authorizes the Comptroller, subject to approval from the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF), to use agricultural land preservation funds to reimburse a landowner for the release of a specified easement restriction when a lot is not used to construct a dwelling house. Passed in House. PASSED

SB 970 This bill creates a cause of action under specified circumstances for an owner of property to use against the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Natural Resources, or the Department of Planning if the application of specified regulations adopted by any of these agencies infringes on a private property right of the property owner. DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE

SB 364 This bill requires the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service to provide a dedicated extension agent to assist individuals with the adoption of management-intensive farming and grazing practices, and requires the Governor to provide at least $500,000 each year to support the Department of Agriculture's activities related to management-intensive farming and grazing, beginning in fiscal year 2015. Hearing was 2/12. The cross-filed bill (HB400) received an unfavorable committee report and was withdrawn. WITHDRAWN

SB 404/HB408 These bills provide a subtraction modification (credit) under the Maryland individual and corporate income tax for specified expenses incurred to buy and install enhanced agricultural management equipment (including manure spreaders) under specified circumstances. PASSED

HB623 This bill provides a statutory definition for the “agricultural land management practices” that are exempt from certain sediment and erosion control requirements, including “those methods and procedures used in the preparation and cultivation of land in order to further crop and livestock production . . ..” DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE

SB796/HB1091 These bills require, on written request of a landowner in an application to purchase an easement, an easement to authorize the landowner to use the land subject to the easement for renewable energy generation under specified circumstances. DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE

MHC to vote on anti-soring bill

At the next Quarterly meeting, MHC will vote on a resolution in support of a bill recently introduced in the US Congress: H.R. 1518. This bill, known as the "Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2013," would require disqualification of a horse from being exhibited if it is determined to be sore; require the USDA to license, train, assign and oversee persons to inspect horses for soreness at shows, exhibitions, sales and auctions; and provide for public disclosure of violations.

In addition, H.R. 1518 would make causing a horse to become sore, the use of an "action device" and/or a weighted shoe, pad, wedge, hoof band (that is used to artificially alter the gait and is not strictly protective or therapeutic) on any limb of a Tennessee Walking Horse, a Racking Horse or a Spotted Saddle Horse at a show, exhibition, sale or auction, and/or the failure to obey an order of disqualification punishable by fines up to $5000 and/or imprisonment for up to 3 years. The bill also provides for permanent disqualification of persons, after the third violation, from participating in, attending (other than as a spectator) or financing participation by others at any horse show, exhibition, auction or sale.

Plan to attend the Quarterly Meeting and make your voice heard! For location, details, click here.

MD Dept. of Natural Resources seeks input on improving trails

From MHC Trails and Greenways Committee:

Request for Comments

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking comments on equestrian issues and concerns about Maryland state owned trails, located in state parks, state forests and wildlife management areas.  The comments will be incorporated into the "Land Preservation and Recreation Plan" or "LPRP", which is done every five years.  Last time, trails were left out entirely.  This year,  trails will be included and given significant space.  The plan may include maintenance, improvements, new trails and land purchases.

A "Trails Working Group" was formed consisting of representatives of trail user interest groups (equestrians, hikers, mountain bikers, ATV'ers, etc.) and asked to survey their member's for issues and concerns.  What changes and improvements would you like to see implemented?

General comments such as, "Enlarge trailhead parking lots for trailers", will be included in the body of the report.  Specific comments such as, "Enlarge the parking lot for trailers at Monocacy NRMA", will be included in the Appendix.

Please send your comments so that DNR can improve our trail riding experience and increase our riding opportunities.
Ron MacNab will be collecting comments from trail riders through the Yahoo Groups, MarylandTrailRiders , and TROT-Members,  or you may email him directly using the subject line "Request for Comments" at ronmacnab@verizon.net.

All comments due by June 15.

Proposed federal legislation would give US Ant-Doping Agency authority to regulate racing

According to the New York Times, a bill about to be introduced into Congress will give USADA authority over the use of drugs and medications in horse racing. Click here to read the article.