Bills in Annapolis aim to change farming in the state

47 ABC – There are a few bills in Annapolis that could change farming in Maryland.

Senate Bill 542, also known as the Community Healthy Air Act, would establish a committee for air quality. And Senate Bill 546 is a bill that essentially puts three different aspects together.

546 would take on PMT regulations, manure handling, and water quality requiring farmers to get a permit before starting construction on any part of a new CAFO as well as submitting certain soil test phosphorus levels.

“It’s a combination bill. You don’t usually get a combination bill, usually they break them a part because you have the enforcement side. This bill the way it’s written right now is going to change things,” says Virgil Shockley, a local farmer.

Both bills are scheduled for a hearing next Wednesday at 1 p.m. in front of the Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee.