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SB 958

An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in licenses and regulations and liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for wine and spirits auction permits.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jay Costa and 4 co-sponsors

Allows Maryland MDA to authorize extraordinary measures to reduce deer when a field loses 50% or more of its crops, with regulations and reporting requirements.

Referred to Law & Justice
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 958

SB 958 — Agriculture — Catastrophic Damage Caused by Deer (Maryland)

Status: Introduced Jan 28, 2025; bill text sets effective date Oct 1, 2025. Cross-file: HB 1024.

Main purpose

Authorize the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) to take “extraordinary measures” to reduce deer populations when deer cause severe agricultural loss, and require MDA to adopt implementing regulations and reporting procedures.

Key provisions

  • Adds §2‑108 to the Agriculture Article.
  • Definition: “Catastrophic damage” means loss of 50% or more of crops from a single field.
  • Authority: If MDA determines deer have caused catastrophic damage to a field, MDA may authorize the use of extraordinary measures to reduce the deer population responsible for that damage.
  • Regulations: MDA must adopt regulations to implement the authorization. Regulations must require that any individual authorized to use extraordinary measures report to MDA the number of deer harvested at each location of catastrophic damage.
  • Effective date: bill text provides an effective date of October 1, 2025.

Who is affected

  • Maryland Department of Agriculture: new authority and regulatory responsibilities, including oversight and reporting.
  • Farmers and agricultural producers experiencing severe crop loss due to deer: may receive authorization to use extraordinary measures beyond existing DNR mechanisms.
  • Department of Natural Resources (DNR) / Wildlife and Heritage Service (WHS): likely to coordinate with MDA because DNR already issues deer management permits and deer cooperator licenses.
  • Small agricultural businesses: potential meaningful benefit where extraordinary measures are more effective than current options.

Relationship to existing law

  • DNR currently issues deer management permits and agricultural deer cooperator licenses that allow deer removal under specified conditions (outside regular seasons, with operational plans, community approvals, etc.). SB 958 creates a separate MDA authorization for situations MDA finds constitute catastrophic damage.

Fiscal and implementation impacts

  • Fiscal Note (Department of Legislative Services): General Fund expenditures estimated to increase by $117,712 in FY2026 (reflecting Oct 1, 2025 effective date) for MDA to hire 1.0 FTE Agricultural Resource Conservation Specialist plus vehicle and operating costs. Estimated ongoing costs: ~$91,800 (FY2027) rising modestly thereafter.
    • FY2026 estimate breakdown: salary+fringe ~$70,343; vehicle ~$40,000; operating ~$7,369.
  • Local governments: no direct fiscal effect identified.
  • Small businesses: some farmers may benefit from more effective deer control where catastrophic loss occurs.
  • Implementation will require MDA rulemaking and coordination with DNR/WHS; workload assumptions include supporting ~25 farmers/year in the agency’s estimate.

Practical considerations

  • The bill vests a new, potentially robust control option with MDA for defined high‑loss events; success depends on clear regulatory criteria, interagency coordination (to avoid duplication/conflict with DNR permits), oversight of public safety and animal‑welfare concerns, and timely reporting/enforcement.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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