reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 2 - Maryland Commercial Fertilizer Law › Section 6-222 - Low Phosphorous Fertilizer

(a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, on or after April 1, 2011, a person may not sell or distribute for use or sale any fertilizer intended for use on established lawns or grass unless it is low phosphorous fertilizer.
(2)    This subsection does not apply to organic or natural organic fertilizer that is sold to a professional fertilizer applicator.
(b)    (1)    On or before April 1, 2011, a manufacturer of lawn fertilizer whose products are sold in the State shall reduce by 50% from 2006 levels the amount of available phosphate (P2O5) resulting from the application of its lawn care products within the State.
(2)    The amount of available phosphate (P2O5) resulting from the application within the State of lawn care products sold or distributed by a manufacturer may not exceed an average of 1.5% available phosphate (P2O5) if, prior to April 1, 2010, the manufacturer did not sell or distribute fertilizer in the State intended for use on established lawns or grass.
(3)    Beginning in 2011, a manufacturer of fertilizer whose products are sold in the State shall report the pounds of phosphorus in its lawn care products sold at retail locations in the State to the Department at the end of each calendar year.
(c)    The Department may adopt regulations to implement this section.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 2 - Maryland Commercial Fertilizer Law › Section 6-223 - Regulation of Fertilizer and Its Application

(a)    Except for enforcement provided under § 8–803.5(g) of this article, the Department has the exclusive authority to establish standards regulating fertilizer and its application to turf.
(b)    A local government entity may not adopt laws, regulations, rules, ordinances, or standards regulating fertilizer and its application to turf.
(c)    Subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not exempt a person from complying with any provision of, or any regulation adopted in accordance with, the Environment Article.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 3 - Agricultural Liming Materials and Gypsum › Section 6-301 - Definitions

(a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    “Agricultural liming materials” means any substance that contains calcium and magnesium in condition and quantity suitable for use in neutralizing soil acidity, or that is used as an ingredient or reagent in the preparation of any fungicide or insecticide.
(c)    “Distributor” means a person who imports, manufactures, produces, mixes, exchanges, sells, offers for sale, consigns, furnishes, provides, or supplies agricultural liming material or gypsum as part of a commercial enterprise.
(d)    “Gypsum” means any product that consists chiefly of calcium sulfate and is intended for use for agricultural purposes.
(e)    “Registrant” means any person who registers any agricultural liming material or gypsum pursuant to the provisions of this subtitle.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 3 - Agricultural Liming Materials and Gypsum › Section 6-304 - Samples; Right of Entry

(a)    The Secretary may collect samples of agricultural liming materials and gypsum to have them analyzed.
(b)    The Secretary has full access, ingress, and egress to and from any place of business, any quarry, kiln, factory, barn, building, land, or vessel used for manufacturing, storing, transporting, or selling agricultural liming materials or gypsum. The Secretary may open any container or package containing or supposed to contain agricultural liming material or gypsum and take any sample for analysis.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 3 - Agricultural Liming Materials and Gypsum › Section 6-305 - Annual Filing Statement; Registration and Inspection Fees

(a)    Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a distributor shall register with the Secretary by February 1 of each year each brand or trade name of agricultural liming material or gypsum before distributing the liming material or gypsum in the State. The application for registration shall be accompanied by a copy of the statement of the composition of the brands of the materials as required by § 6–307 of this subtitle.
(b)    Each applicant for registration shall pay an annual $110 registration fee for agricultural liming materials and gypsum sold or distributed in the State. In addition, each registrant shall pay an inspection fee at the rate of 10 cents per ton sold in the State.
(c)    Provided the product label has not been altered or changed, a distributor may not be required to register the brand or trade name of an agricultural liming material or gypsum which has been registered by another person under this subtitle.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 3 - Agricultural Liming Materials and Gypsum › Section 6-306 - Semiannual Distribution Statements; Cancellation of Registration

(a)    Each registrant who distributes agricultural liming materials or gypsum in the State shall file by January 31 and July 31 of each year, a semiannual statement setting forth the number of net tons of agricultural liming material or gypsum distributed in the State during the six month period ending the last day of the previous month.
(b)    Upon filing the statement each registrant shall pay an inspection fee at the rate provided in § 6–305 of this subtitle.
(c)    Failure to make an accurate statement of tonnage, pay the inspection fee, or to comply with the provisions of this section is sufficient cause to cancel all registrations of the registrant.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 3 - Agricultural Liming Materials and Gypsum › Section 6-307 - Information Statement

(a)    Any agricultural liming material or gypsum distributed in the State shall have attached to it or be accompanied by an invoice as provided in § 6–308 of this subtitle bearing a plainly printed statement giving the following information:
(1)    Name of the manufacturer or importer, and the address of the manufacturer’s or importer’s principal office;
(2)    Name of the place where manufactured;
(3)    Brand or trade name of the material;
(4)    Name of the form of the material;
(5)    Net weight, if the material is sold in a package;
(6)    If in a ground or powdered form, fineness of the material showing the percentage passing the 20 mesh sieve, the 60 mesh sieve, and the 100 mesh sieve;
(7)    Minimum percent of calcium or magnesium expressed in either the elemental form or as calcium oxide (CaO) or magnesium oxide (MgO), and, in the case of gypsum, the minimum percent of calcium sulfate (CaSO4);
(8)    With respect to all burned forms of liming materials, including mixtures of burned and unburned liming materials, a statement of the total percent of calcium and magnesium expressed in either the elemental form or as calcium oxide (CaO) or magnesium oxide (MgO).
(b)    The information given in the statement is the manufacturer’s or importer’s guarantee that the product to which it refers is of the kind and quantity or composition and fineness indicated in the statement.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 3 - Agricultural Liming Materials and Gypsum › Section 6-308 - Labeling or Tagging; Delivery of Statement With Invoice

When materials are sold in a package, the information statement shall be plainly printed on the package, or on a tag or label of a quality and fastened in a manner that it cannot be detached in handling. When materials are sold in bulk, the statement shall be delivered to the purchaser either with the invoice or with the materials.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 3 - Agricultural Liming Materials and Gypsum › Section 6-309 - Revocation of Registration for False Information in Statement

In addition to any penalty provided by this article, the Secretary may revoke the registration if the registrant gives false information in its statements concerning the kind, quality composition, or fineness of materials distributed under the provisions of this subtitle.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 3 - Agricultural Liming Materials and Gypsum › Section 6-310 - Payment of Fines Into Fund

If any fine is imposed by the circuit court of any county under the provisions of this subtitle, the fine, less the costs of collection, shall be paid immediately into the fund established by § 6–501 of this title.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 3 - Agricultural Liming Materials and Gypsum › Section 6-311 - Stop-Sale Orders

(a)    The Secretary may issue and enforce a written stop-sale order to the owner, custodian, or distributor of any lot of agricultural liming material or gypsum that:
(1)    The Secretary finds is in violation of any provision of this subtitle or regulation under this subtitle; or
(2)    Has been found by federal or State authorities to cause unreasonable adverse effects to humans, animals, plants, or the environment.
(b)    The order prohibits sale or distribution of the lot of agricultural liming material or gypsum until the Secretary has evidence that the lot is in compliance with the law and until the Secretary provides a written release from the stop-sale order.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 4 - Administrative Penalties › Section 6-401 - Penalty in Lieu of Refusing or Cancelling Registration

(a)    Instead of refusing or cancelling a registration, the Secretary may impose an administrative penalty on any person who violates any provision of this title.
(b)    The penalty imposed under this section may not exceed $2,000.
(c)    All penalties collected under this section shall be paid into the State Chemist Fund under § 6–501 of this title.
(d)    The Secretary shall adopt regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 5 - State Chemist Fund › Section 6-501 - State Chemist Fund

(a)    In this section, “Fund” means the State Chemist Fund.
(b)    The Fund is created as a special, nonlapsing fund in the Department for the purpose specified in this section.
(c)    The Fund shall consist of any registration, inspection, or late fees or any penalties collected under this title or under Title 5, Subtitle 1 of this article.
(d)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Fund may be used only to defray partially the cost of inspection, sampling, analysis, and other expenses necessary for administering this title or Title 5, Subtitle 1 of this article.
(2)    Of each annual registration fee and each terminal registration fee collected under § 5–105 of this article, at least $10 shall be used only for activities of the Department relating to the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on pesticide use in the State.
(e)    At the end of a fiscal year, any unexpended or unencumbered money in the Fund, up to a maximum of $375,000, may not revert to the General Fund of the State.
(f)    Money expended from the Fund for activities of the Department relating to the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on pesticide use in the State is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that otherwise would be appropriated for such activities.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 1 - General Provisions › Section 8-101 - Definitions

(a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    “Committee” means the State Soil Conservation Committee.
(c)    “Conservation” means the wise utilization of natural resources and includes any one or more of the following: the development, improvement, maintenance, protection or preservation of these resources; the control and prevention of flood water and sediment damage; and the controlled disposal of water.
(d)    “County” means every county of the State, excluding Baltimore City unless expressly designated.
(e)    “District” means a soil conservation district, a political subdivision of the State continued in accordance with the provisions of this subtitle.
(f)    “Due notice” means notice published at least twice, with an interval of at least seven days between the two publication dates, in a newspaper or other publication of general circulation within the appropriate area. If no publication of general circulation is available, the notice may be posted at a reasonable number of conspicuous places within the appropriate area, including if possible, public places where it is customary to post notices concerning county or municipal affairs generally. At any hearing held pursuant to the notice, at the time and place designated in the notice, adjournment may be made without renewing notice for the adjourned dates.
(g)    “Land occupier” means any person holding title to or possessing any lands lying within a district, whether as owner, lessee, tenant, or otherwise.
(h)    “Supervisor” means a member of the governing body of a district.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 2 - State Soil Conservation Committee › Section 8-201 - Composition of Committee; Appointment of Soil Conservation District Supervisor; Tenure of Members; Filling Vacancies

(a)    The following persons shall serve as members of the Committee:
(1)    The Secretary, or any employee of the Department the Secretary designates;
(2)    The Secretary of Natural Resources, or any employee of the Department of Natural Resources whom the Secretary of Natural Resources designates;
(3)    The Secretary of the Environment, or any employee of the Department of the Environment designated by the Secretary of the Environment;
(4)    The principal administrative official for agricultural affairs at the University System of Maryland as designated by the Chancellor of the University;
(5)    The Chairman of the Maryland Agricultural Commission, or the Chairman’s designee;
(6)    The President of the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts;
(7)    Five soil conservation district supervisors representing the five different geographic areas of the State, as provided in subsection (b) of this section;
(8)    The Director of the Cooperative Extension Service and the principal administrative officer for Maryland of the Soil Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, who shall be nonvoting members; and
(9)    Other representatives of cooperating State and federal agencies serving as consultants to the Committee as selected by the Committee.
(b)    The Secretary shall appoint the soil conservation district supervisors from recommendations submitted by the district supervisors of each area represented. Each supervisor shall be from one of the following five geographic areas:
(1)    Area No. 1: Garrett, Allegany, Washington County, Catoctin, Frederick, and Carroll Soil Conservation Districts;
(2)    Area No. 2: Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert Soil Conservation Districts;
(3)    Area No. 3: Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, and Talbot Soil Conservation Districts;
(4)    Area No. 4: Baltimore County, Harford, Montgomery, Howard and Cecil Soil Conservation Districts; and
(5)    Area No. 5: Dorchester, Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Soil Conservation Districts.
(c)    The term of each supervisor appointed after July 1, 1974, is four years. Each supervisor shall serve until the supervisor’s successor is appointed. A supervisor may not serve as a member more than two full successive terms. Every other member shall hold office as long as the member retains the office by virtue of which the member is serving on the Committee.
(d)    An appointment to fill an unexpired term shall be made in the same manner as for a full term.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 2 - State Soil Conservation Committee › Section 8-202 - Chairman and Vice-Chairman; Quorum; Compensation and Expenses; Audit

(a)    The Committee annually shall elect in July a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members. A majority of the Committee constitutes a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority in any matter is required for its determination.
(b)    The chairman and members of the Committee receive no compensation for their services on the Committee, but are entitled to expenses, including traveling expenses, necessarily incurred in the discharge of their duties on the Committee. The Committee shall be subject to an annual audit of the accounts of receipts and disbursements by the Legislative Auditor.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 2 - State Soil Conservation Committee › Section 8-205 - Powers and Duties of the Committee

(a)    The Committee may perform acts, hold public hearings, and, subject to the approval of the Secretary, adopt rules and regulations necessary for the execution of its functions under this subtitle.
(b)    The Committee may delegate to its chairman, any member, or any employee powers and duties it deems proper.
(c)    The Committee shall:
(1)    Adopt a seal which shall be judicially noticed;
(2)    Offer assistance to the supervisors of soil conservation districts;
(3)    Keep the supervisors of each district informed of the activities and experience of the other districts and facilitate cooperation and interchange of advice and experience between the districts;
(4)    Coordinate the programs of the several soil conservation districts by advising and consulting with the districts;
(5)    Secure the cooperation and assistance of the United States, its agencies, and State agencies in the work of the districts;
(6)    Disseminate information throughout the State concerning the activities and programs of the soil conservation districts and encourage the formation of districts in any areas where their organization is desirable;
(7)    Grant to the districts either directly or through the counties funds made available to the Committee for use by the districts in implementing the soil conservation program;
(8)    Provide for the execution of surety bonds for every employee or officer entrusted with funds or property;
(9)    Keep a full and accurate record of all proceedings and every rule or regulation or order issued or adopted; and
(10)    Assign to the districts such clerical and administrative employees as authorized by the annual State budget or through agreement with local governments.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 3 - State Soil Conservation Districts › Section 8-301 - Soil Conservation Districts Continued; Boundaries

(a)    The 24 soil conservation districts are established and continued with boundaries corresponding to county boundaries, except for Frederick County, and include all land and water and incorporated areas, as follows:
(1)    Allegany Soil Conservation District;
(2)    Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District;
(3)    Baltimore County Soil Conservation District;
(4)    Calvert Soil Conservation District;
(5)    Caroline Soil Conservation District;
(6)    Carroll Soil Conservation District;
(7)    Cecil Soil Conservation District;
(8)    Charles Soil Conservation District;
(9)    Dorchester Soil Conservation District;
(10)    Garrett Soil Conservation District;
(11)    Harford Soil Conservation District;
(12)    Howard Soil Conservation District;
(13)    Kent Soil Conservation District;
(14)    Montgomery Soil Conservation District;
(15)    Prince George’s Soil Conservation District;
(16)    Queen Anne’s Soil Conservation District;
(17)    St. Mary’s Soil Conservation District;
(18)    Somerset Soil Conservation District;
(19)    Talbot Soil Conservation District;
(20)    Washington County Soil Conservation District;
(21)    Wicomico Soil Conservation District;
(22)    Worcester Soil Conservation District;
(23)    Catoctin Soil Conservation District within the area of Frederick County bounded by the Washington–Frederick County line, the Potomac River, and the eastern and northern boundaries of the Catoctin Creek watershed; and
(24)    The Frederick Soil Conservation District comprising the balance of Frederick County land and water area.
(b)    A Baltimore City Soil Conservation District may be established and continued with boundaries corresponding to the boundaries of Baltimore City.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 3 - State Soil Conservation Districts › Section 8-302 - District Supervisors Constituted Governing Body; Number, Qualifications, Appointment and Removal; Tenure; Vacancies

(a)    The governing body of each district consists of five supervisors.
(b)    Each supervisor shall be interested and knowledgeable in conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources. By training and experience, each supervisor shall be qualified to perform the specialized skilled services which are required in performing the duties under this subtitle.
(c)    The supervisors shall be appointed in the following manner, and consideration shall be given to representation from farming, forestry, wildlife, and urban interests where appropriate:
(1)    One district resident by the county governing body and serving at the pleasure of the county governing body. In those counties with both an executive and a legislative branch of government, the appointment shall be made by the executive and approved by the legislative branch;
(2)    One by the Committee from a list of three district residents submitted by the county farm bureau;
(3)    One by the Committee from a list of three district residents submitted by the county extension service; and
(4)    Two by the Committee from among residents of the district.
(d)    The term of office of each Committee appointed member is 5 years. Each supervisor shall hold office until his successor is appointed and qualifies. Vacancies shall be filled for any unexpired term by appointments made in the same manner as for the full term.
(e)    The Committee, upon notice and hearing, may remove any supervisor from office for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. In addition, any supervisor who, during any period of 12 consecutive months, shall fail to attend at least 50 percent of all regular meetings of the board of supervisors of the district of which he is an appointed member, shall be considered to have resigned and the chairman of the board of supervisors shall notify the appropriate appointing body of the resultant vacancy. However, if the reasons for the supervisor’s inability to attend meetings as required in this subtitle are found by the appointing body to be satisfactory, the appointing body may reinstate the supervisor to office.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 3 - State Soil Conservation Districts › Section 8-303 - Meetings of Supervisors; Bonds; Audit; Representatives of Localities; Services of Attorney General

(a)    The supervisors shall designate annually a chairman and such other officers as may be necessary, and shall have authority to change these designations. A majority of the supervisors constitutes a quorum and the concurrence of a majority in any matter is required for its determination. A supervisor may receive his travel expenses and per diem allowance, as set by the Committee and provided in the annual State budget, for each day spent in the performance of his duties. A supervisor may receive an additional per diem allowance provided by sources other than the State, not to exceed the allowance set by the Committee.
(b)    The supervisors may employ a secretary, technical experts, and other permanent and temporary officers and employees as they require, and shall determine their qualifications, duties, and compensation. The supervisors may delegate to the chairman, to any supervisor, or any employee powers and duties as they deem proper.
(c)    The supervisors shall provide for the execution of surety bonds for every employee and officer who is entrusted with funds or property. They shall provide for the keeping of a full and accurate record of all proceedings and of all resolutions, rules and regulations, and orders issued or adopted. They shall provide for an annual audit of the accounts of receipts and disbursements.
(d)    The supervisors may invite the legislative body of any municipality or county, located near or within the district, to designate a representative to advise and consult with the supervisors of the district on all questions of program and policy which may affect the property, water supply, or other interests of the municipality or county.
(e)    The Office of the Attorney General may provide services to the supervisors as needed.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 3 - State Soil Conservation Districts › Section 8-304 - Committee to Be Furnished Information by Supervisors

The supervisors, upon request, shall furnish the Committee with copies of each ordinance, rule or regulation, order, contract, form, or other document they adopt or employ, and other information concerning their activities as the Committee requires in the performance of its duties under this subtitle.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 3 - State Soil Conservation Districts › Section 8-305 - State Agencies to Cooperate With Supervisors; Right of Entry on Public Land

(a)    Any State agency, or any agency of any county, or other political subdivision of the State having jurisdiction over or charged with the administration of any State, county, or other publicly owned lands lying within the boundaries of any district, shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the supervisors of the district to effectuate the programs and operations undertaken by the supervisors under this subtitle.
(b)    The supervisors shall be given free access to enter and perform work on publicly owned lands.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 3 - State Soil Conservation Districts › Section 8-307 - Land-Use Rules and Regulations -- Generally

(a)    The supervisors of any district may formulate rules and regulations governing the use of land within the district in order to conserve soil and soil resources and prevent and control soil erosion. The supervisors may conduct public meetings and public hearings upon tentative rules and regulations as necessary.
(b)    The district supervisors, by rules and regulations, may:
(1)    Require necessary engineering operations, including the construction of terraces, terrace outlets, check dams, dikes, ponds, ditches, and other necessary structures;
(2)    Require observance of particular methods of cultivation including (i) contour cultivating, contour furrowing, lister furrowing, sowing, planting, strip cropping, and seeding; (ii) planting of lands with water conserving and erosion preventing plants, trees, and grasses; and (iii) forestation and reforestation;
(3)    Specify cropping programs and tillage practices to be observed;
(4)    Require retirement from cultivation of any highly erosive area on which erosion may not be adequately controlled if cultivation is carried on; and
(5)    Provide for other means, measures, operations, and programs that may assist conservation of soil resources and prevent or control soil erosion in the district, having due regard to the legislative findings set forth in § 8–102 of this title.
(c)    The regulations shall be uniform throughout the district, except the supervisors may classify district lands with reference to factors such as soil type, degree of slope, degree of erosion threatened or existing, cropping and tillage practices in use, and other relevant factors, and may provide rules and regulations varying with the type or class of land affected, but uniform as to all lands within each class or type.
(d)    Copies of land–use regulations adopted under the provisions of this section shall be printed and made available to all land occupiers within the district.
(e)    Any agency administering any publicly owned lands shall observe the land–use rules and regulations in every respect.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 3 - State Soil Conservation Districts › Section 8-308 - Land-Use Rules and Regulations -- Procedure for Adopting; Effect; Amendment or Repeal

(a)    Before any land-use rule or regulation is enacted into law the supervisors shall give due notice of their intention to submit the rules and regulations to a referendum among the land occupiers within the boundaries of the district for their approval or disapproval.
(b)    The proposed rules and regulations shall be embodied in a proposed ordinance. Copies of the proposed ordinance shall be available for the inspection of all eligible voters during the period between publication of the notice and the date of the referendum. The notices of the referendum shall contain a fair summary of the contents, or state where copies of the proposed ordinance may be examined.
(c)    The supervisors shall supervise the referendum, prescribe appropriate rules and regulations governing its conduct, and publish the results. Only land occupiers within the district are eligible to vote in the referendum.
(d)    No informality in the conduct of the referendum or in any matter relating to it may invalidate the referendum or its results if notice is given substantially in accordance with the provisions of this title and the referendum is fairly conducted.
(e)    The supervisors may not enact the proposed ordinance into law unless at least a majority of the votes cast have been cast for its approval, but the approval of the proposed ordinance by a majority of the votes cast in the referendum does not require the supervisors to enact the proposed ordinance into law.
(f)    Land-use rules and regulations prescribed in an ordinance adopted by the supervisors of any district have the force and effect of law in the district and shall be binding and obligatory upon all land occupiers within the district.
(g)    Any land occupier within the district may file a petition at any time with the supervisors requesting amendment, supplement, or repeal of any land-use rule or regulation prescribed in any ordinance adopted by the supervisors. Land-use regulations prescribed in any ordinance may not be amended, supplemented, or repealed except in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this section for adoption of land-use regulations. Referenda on adoption, amendment, supplementation, or repeal of land-use rules and regulations may not be held more than once in six months.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 3 - State Soil Conservation Districts › Section 8-309 - Land-Use Rules and Regulations -- Enforcement

The supervisors may go upon any lands within the district to determine whether land-use rules and regulations are being observed. The supervisors may provide, by ordinance, that any land occupier who sustains damages from any violation of the rules and regulations by any other land occupier may recover damages at law from the other land occupier for the violation.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 3 - State Soil Conservation Districts › Section 8-310 - Land-Use Rules and Regulations -- Enforcement -- Judicial Proceedings

(a)    If the supervisors of any district find that any provision of the land-use rules and regulations is not being complied with on any parcel of land and that noncompliance tends to increase erosion on the land, and is interfering with prevention or control of erosion on other land in the district, the supervisors may seek relief in the circuit court of the county where the district is located.
(b)    In any case where the person in possession of the land is not the owner, the owner of the land shall be joined as a party defendant.
(c)    The court may provide that upon failure of the defendant to initiate performance of the work within the time specified by the court and complete it with reasonable diligence, the supervisors may enter on the land to perform the work and bring the conditions of the land into compliance with the land-use rules and regulations.
(d)    The court shall retain jurisdiction of the case until the work is completed. Upon completion of the work pursuant to the order of the court, the supervisors may file a petition with the court stating the costs and expenses sustained by them in performing work and praying judgment with interest. The court may enter a judgment for the amount of the supervisor’s costs and expenses, with interest at the rate of 5 percent per year, together with the costs of suit, including a reasonable attorney’s fee fixed by the court.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 3 - State Soil Conservation Districts › Section 8-311 - Costs of Review of Grading and Sediment Control Plans -- Fee System

(a)    In order to develop a fee system to be implemented under § 8-306(a)(18) of this subtitle and § 4-103(c) of the Environment Article, a soil conservation district shall each year determine the reasonable costs of review of grading and sediment control plans for the succeeding year.
(b)    The soil conservation district shall develop the fee system based on the costs determined under subsection (a) of this section, and shall submit the fee system to the local governing body.
(c)    Within 90 days after the soil conservation district submits the final fee system, the local governing body may:
(1)    Enact the fee system of the soil conservation district, to take effect within 90 days after the soil conservation district submits the final fee system to the local governing body; or
(2)    Enact a different fee system or otherwise provide funding.
(d)    If the local governing body fails to accept or modify the fee system submitted by the soil conservation district, the final fee system submitted by the soil conservation district shall take effect on the 91st day after the district submits the fee system to the local governing body, without requiring enactment by the local governing body.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 4 - Division, Combination, and Termination of Districts › Section 8-402 - Appointment of Supervisors to Governing Body; Disposal of District Property

(a)    If the Committee determines that the division or combination, or both, is feasible in its entirety, it shall appoint as the governing body for each district resulting from the proposed division or combination, or both, four supervisors and the county governing body shall appoint one supervisor. The appointments shall be made in accordance with the provisions of § 8–302 of this title. Any existing supervisor is eligible to be appointed as a new supervisor.
(b)    The Committee shall certify to the new supervisors, and to the supervisors of each existing district to be divided or combined, or both, (1) the determination of the Committee concerning the administrative feasibility of the division or combination, or both; (2) the boundaries of the proposed districts; (3) the names, addresses, and positions of the supervisors appointed for each new district; and (4) other data it deems appropriate.
(c)    The supervisors of any existing district to be divided shall decide the proportion and manner of dividing its property, assets, and rights, except executory contracts, among the new districts into which the old district is to be divided, taking into consideration the nature and source of the property, assets, and rights, the comparative sizes of the new divisions, the number of land occupiers of each division, and general considerations of fairness in making the allocation. The supervisors shall notify the Committee and the new supervisors who are to receive any property, rights, or assets of their decision. The property, assets, or rights shall be divided and transferred accordingly.
(d)    If the supervisors of a district to be divided are unable to agree on the division of the property, assets, and rights within 60 days after the certification of determination from the Committee, they shall notify the Committee. After a hearing of the supervisors and any other person within the district whom the Committee judges to be reasonably entitled to be heard, the Committee shall determine finally the proportions and manner of the division and shall certify its decision to the supervisors, who immediately shall proceed to divide the property, assets, and rights, accordingly.
(e)    If the district is to be combined and not divided, the supervisor shall transfer the assets, property, and rights of the district to the new supervisors of the combined district of which it will comprise a part.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 4 - Division, Combination, and Termination of Districts › Section 8-403 - Application and Statement of Supervisors and Committee

(a)    The supervisors of each resulting district shall file a verified application with the Secretary of State when the property, assets, and rights to which they are entitled under division or combination, or both, are received.
(b)    The application shall recite:
(1)    The petition for the division or combination, or both, of the district was filed with the Committee pursuant to the provisions of this subtitle;
(2)    The proceedings specified in this subtitle were taken pursuant to the petition;
(3)    The application is being filed in order to complete the division or combination, or both, of any old district;
(4)    The supervisors have been appointed;
(5)    The name and official residence of each supervisor, together with a certified copy of the appointments evidencing his rights to office;
(6)    The term of office of each supervisor;
(7)    The name of the district; and
(8)    The location of the principal office of the supervisors.
(c)    The application shall be executed and sworn to by each supervisor before an officer, authorized by law to take and certify oaths, who shall certify on the application that he personally knows each supervisor, knows him to be the officer as affirmed in the application, and that each has subscribed to the application in his presence.
(d)    The application shall be accompanied by a statement of the Committee, which shall recite the fact that:
(1)    A petition was filed;
(2)    Notice was given;
(3)    A referendum was held on the question of dividing or combining, or both, the named districts;
(4)    The Committee determined that division or combination, or both, was administratively feasible;
(5)    The division or combination, or both, of the property, assets, and rights was decided upon and carried out in accordance with this subtitle; and
(6)    The boundaries of the district are as described in the petition, or as further defined by the Committee.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 4 - Division, Combination, and Termination of Districts › Section 8-404 - Certificate of Constitution of District; Powers of New Districts and Supervisors

(a)    When the Secretary of State has examined, received, filed, and recorded the application, in the book for the recording of applications for the organization of districts, the old districts shall cease to exist, and the resulting districts shall constitute political subdivisions of the State and public bodies corporate and politic. The Secretary of State shall issue to the supervisors of each resulting district, under the seal of the State, a certificate of constitution by division or combination, or both, of any district, and shall record the certificate with the application and statement.
(b)    Upon the issuance of the certificate of constitution, every ordinance and rule or regulation previously adopted and in force within the former districts has no further force and effect. Any contract, to which the former district or its supervisors are parties, is effective for the period provided in the contract. The Committee shall be substituted for the district or supervisors as a party to the contract. The Committee is entitled to every benefit and subject to every liability under the contract and has the same right and liability to perform, to require performance, to sue and be sued, and to modify or terminate any contract by mutual consent or otherwise, as the supervisors of the former district.
(c)    The Committee may designate and direct any new district to act as its agent to carry out any contract or duty, enforce any right, or perform any other work which accrues to it under this section on account of the division or combination, or both, of an old district.
(d)    Any district constituted by division or combination, or both, and its supervisors have the same powers and are subject to the same restrictions as any district continued in accordance with § 8–301 of this title and its supervisors.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 4 - Division, Combination, and Termination of Districts › Section 8-405 - Adequate Personnel and Resources for Soil Conservation Districts

(a)    The General Assembly finds that, from fiscal year 1991 through fiscal year 1998, inadequate resources have been provided for the soil conservation districts to employ adequate field personnel to assist farmers in the preparation of soil conservation and water quality plans.
(b)    It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide sufficient technical assistance and resources through the soil conservation districts to assist farmers in pursuit of soil conservation and water quality plans and other activities authorized under this title.
(c)    (1)    The Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an amount sufficient to employ not less than 110 field personnel in the soil conservation districts under this title.
(2)    The appropriation for the 24 soil conservation districts shall be as follows:
(i)    For fiscal year 2008, $8,800,000;
(ii)    For fiscal year 2009, $9,200,000;
(iii)    For fiscal year 2010, $9,600,000; and
(iv)    For fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter, $10,000,000.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 6 - Drainage of Agricultural Land › Section 8-601 - Powers and Duties of Secretary

The Secretary shall promote and encourage the drainage of agricultural lands in the State, correlate the activities of the local drainage organizations in the State, and cooperate with State and federal agencies in the interest of a permanent program of improved drainage. The Secretary has the powers necessary to accomplish the purposes of this subtitle.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 6 - Drainage of Agricultural Land › Section 8-602 - Cost Sharing in Maintenance of Drainage Outlet Systems

(a)    To implement the purposes of this subtitle, the Secretary may provide up to 50 percent of the costs necessary to maintain drainage outlet systems constructed under the provisions of Title 25 or Title 26 of the Local Government Article.
(b)    Maintenance of drainage outlet systems is limited to the control of vegetation and the removal of channel obstructions and placement of debris. Maintenance does not include major channel reconstruction or realignment or the removal of trees exceeding four inches in diameter at breast height.
(c)    Plans for maintenance operations submitted to the Secretary for cost sharing shall include cost estimates and shall be approved by the appropriate soil conservation district.
(d)    The approval of the Secretary for cost sharing is conditioned on written commitment of matching funds by the association submitting application for assistance.
(e)    The Secretary shall establish priorities for approval of assistance, in consultation with the State Soil Conservation Committee.
(f)    The Governor annually shall include funds in the State budget to be used for the purposes of this section.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 8 - Soil Conservation › Subtitle 7 - Cost Sharing -- Water Pollution Control › Section 8-701 - Definitions

(a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    “Best management practice” means a conservation or pollution control practice that manages soil loss due to farming practices or manages nutrients, animal wastes, or agricultural chemicals so as to minimize movement into the surface waters of the State.
(c)    “Eligible cost” means a capital expenditure for installing, purchasing, or constructing a best management practice. It does not include the cost of land or interests in land, or the costs of operating or maintaining best management practices.
(d)    “Fixed natural filter practice” means one of the following practices:
(1)    The planting of riparian forest buffers;
(2)    The planting of riparian herbaceous cover;
(3)    Tree plantings that are:
(i)    On agricultural land; and
(ii)    Outside a riparian buffer;
(4)    Wetland restoration; or
(5)    Pasture management, including rotational grazing systems such as:
(i)    Livestock fencing; and
(ii)    Watering systems implemented as part of the conversion of cropland to pasture.
(e)    “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, trust, or other business enterprise which as an owner, landlord, or tenant, participates in the operation of a farm.
(f)    “Pooling agreement” means a written agreement between persons, approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, to perform best management practices and which is intended to solve a mutual pollution problem on different farms.
(g)    “Project” means a project to prevent or control agriculturally related nonpoint source water pollution by establishing best management practices on a farm.