Maryland General Assembly Passes Bill to Study PFAS Testing in Pesticides

(Annapolis, MD) – Today, April 10, 2023, Maryland took an important step towards reducing exposure to the harmful chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS found in contaminated pesticides. The Maryland General Assembly passed the Pesticides – PFAS Testing – Study bill (SB 158/HB 319), which requires the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), in […]

Read More… from Maryland General Assembly Passes Bill to Study PFAS Testing in Pesticides

Maryland Lacks Appropriate Systems to Track COVID Cases Among Poultry, Migrant, and Seasonal Farm and Food Workers

Marylanders for Food and Farm Worker Protection Coalition calls on the state to adopt new measures to help curb infectious diseases by collecting better COVID-19 data for the poultry industry and migrant seasonal food and farm workers Right now, migrant and seasonal farm workers are arriving in Maryland to support the state’s immense agriculture industry. […]

Read More… from Maryland Lacks Appropriate Systems to Track COVID Cases Among Poultry, Migrant, and Seasonal Farm and Food Workers

Maryland Essential Workers’ Protection Act Passes State Legislature, Safeguarding Food and Farm Workers During Enduring Pandemic

Essential food and farm workers Covid-19 vulnerable

A victory for temporary emergency protections, but more work to be done to protect food and farm workers  Last night, the Maryland legislature gave final approval to the Maryland Essential Workers’ Protection Act (HB 581 / SB 486), which is a small victory for essential workers, including food and farm workers who have often been […]

Read More… from Maryland Essential Workers’ Protection Act Passes State Legislature, Safeguarding Food and Farm Workers During Enduring Pandemic

General Assembly Passes Bill to Fix Pollinator Protection Act

Technical fix protects bees, pollinators, and Maryland’s food supply April 12, 2021, Annapolis, MD – Today, the Maryland General Assembly gave final passage to legislation (HB208 / SB375) that will provide a critical technical fix to the bipartisan 2016 Pollinator Protection Act to end all consumer use of outdoor, home, lawn, and garden products that contain neonicotinoid (or neonic) pesticide, as the […]

Read More… from General Assembly Passes Bill to Fix Pollinator Protection Act

New Maryland Coalition Calls on Governor Hogan To Protect Food and Farm Workers

  Over 100 groups form the Marylanders for Food and Farm Worker Protection Coalition call for executive order providing COVID-19 protections for poultry, seafood, and agricultural workers. September 3, 2020, Eastern Shore, MD — Today, a new coalition of over 100 groups fighting for workers’ rights launched its campaign calling on Governor Hogan to issue an […]

Read More… from New Maryland Coalition Calls on Governor Hogan To Protect Food and Farm Workers

Bill to Ban Toxic Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Passes Maryland Senate

For Immediate Release March 3, 2020  Contact: Dawn Stoltzfus, The Hatcher Group, 410-267-4153, dawn@thehatchergroup.com Ruth Berlin, Maryland Pesticide Education Network, 410-693-7319, berlinmpn49@gmail.com   Bill to Ban Toxic Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Passes Maryland Senate Chlorpyrifos is proven to cause brain damage in children and harm the environment   (Annapolis, MD) – Today, the Maryland Senate voted 31-14 […]

Read More… from Bill to Ban Toxic Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Passes Maryland Senate

2017 Pollinator Habitat Bill Signed Into Law

  New Maryland Law Will Protect State Pollinator Habitat Law signed today will ban harmful pesticides on state designated pollinator habitat   Annapolis, MD (May 25, 2017) – Today Governor Larry Hogan will sign SB 386/HB 830, sponsored by Senator Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (D-44) and Delegate Anne Healey (D-22), which prohibits pesticides known to harm pollinators […]

Read More… from 2017 Pollinator Habitat Bill Signed Into Law

Update on Pollinator Protection Legislation in Maryland

As you may know, in 2016 the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill — the “Pollinator Habitat Plans” law — requiring several state agencies to establish a pollinator habitat on lands they own or manage, to increase critical habitat for Maryland pollinators. Pollinator health is at risk due, in part, to lack of sufficient habitat.    In […]

Read More… from Update on Pollinator Protection Legislation in Maryland

Support the 2016 Pollinator Protection Act

  We have a bill! The 2016 Pollinator Protection Act (SB 198 & HB 211) has been introduced in the Maryland General Assembly. The 2016 Pollinator Protection Act requires retailers to curb sales of neonic pesticides and and let consumers know when they are buying plants or seeds treated with them. These reasonable steps will […]

Read More… from Support the 2016 Pollinator Protection Act