A bill is being heard in Annapolis on Friday that puts our state’s finite farmland at risk. HB1036/SB931 would allow state government to override local or county zoning laws to approve solar energy projects. 

This bill threatens to take prime farmland out production and undermine local authority over solar projects.

Maryland is already losing thousands of acres of farmland each year, and this heavy handed legislation has the chance to take even more out of production. For its negative impact to agriculture, we will be in Annapolis to fighting against this bill. But we need your help.

Consider testifying, either in-person or written, in opposition to this bill. We’ve included a tutorial below so you can make your voice heard to policymakers in Annapolis. To submit testimony on this bill, it must be done on Wednesday, February 26th from 8AM to 6PM.

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Here’s how to sign-up to testify on legislation in Annapolis:

• Create a MyMGA account on the MGA website
  • Confirm your email
• On your MyMGA homepage, you can select “Witness Signup” on the left toolbar and sort by relevant committees
  • If you do not see the toolbar on the left, witness signup can also be accessed by clicking the MyMGA logo in the top right corner.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: There is a slim time window where you can sign up for testimony, 2 business days before your respective bill’s hearing, from 8 AM to 6 PM
  • For example, if you would like to testify at the SB0931/HB1036 hearing taking place on Friday, you would need to sign up on Wednesday from 8 AM to 6 PM.
• During your bill’s respective sign-up window, you will have an opportunity to sign up to testify, stating your position and method of testifying via the drop-down menu.

• If you choose written testimony, upload a PDF file of your writing in the “Upload Files” section
  • If you plan on testifying in-person, we highly recommend you chose “In-Person – Both” and upload your remarks as well, as sometimes positions to testify orally can be limited.
• Once you are done uploading, make sure the box next your bill is clicked and hit “save” at the top of the witness sign up page
• You’re done! Get ready for your bill’s hearing in two business days.

If testifying in-person, arrive early on the day of the hearing to allow ample time for parking, getting through security, and navigating to the committee room.

Still having trouble? MyMGA has helpful tutorials to set up an account and how to register to testify.