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SB 264

Plant Disease Control - Nurseries - Inspection, Certification, and Licensing Fees

2025 Regular Session

Maryland establishes new inspection, certification, and licensing fees for plant nurseries to fund state disease control and prevention programs.

Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · SB 264

Legislative bill overview

SB 264 establishes new inspection, certification, and licensing fee structures for plant nurseries in Maryland as part of plant disease control efforts. The bill modifies how the state charges nurseries for regulatory oversight and compliance verification related to plant health and disease prevention. These fees would fund the Department of Agriculture's plant disease monitoring and control programs.

Why is this important

Nurseries are critical distribution points for plants and seeds, making disease prevention essential to protect Maryland's agricultural industry and home gardeners. Fee structures directly impact operating costs for small and large nurseries, potentially affecting product prices and business viability. The funding generated supports state capacity to detect and respond to plant diseases that could threaten crops, landscapes, and food security.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost burden on small operators: Small family-owned nurseries may struggle more with new fees than large commercial operations, potentially squeezing profit margins or forcing price increases on consumers
  • Fee justification and transparency: Questions about whether proposed fees accurately reflect inspection costs and whether funds are efficiently used versus creating unnecessary bureaucratic overhead
  • Regulatory scope creep: Concerns that licensing requirements could expand beyond disease control to impose broader operational restrictions on nursery businesses

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

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