Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SJ 4
                      Department of Legislative Services
                              Maryland General Assembly
                                    2021 Session
                           FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
                                 Third Reader
Senate Joint Resolution 4     (Senator Guzzone)
Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs            Rules and Executive Nominations
               Natural Resources – Fishing – Wild–Caught Blue Catfish
This joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to amend specified federal law and return
federal oversight responsibilities related to the processing and inspection of wild invasive
catfish caught in the Chesapeake Bay to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The
joint resolution states that the rules promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) requiring the inspection of fish of the order Siluriformes are unnecessary and
burdensome and have led to unintended consequences, which include deflating the market
for blue catfish caught in Maryland waters and financially harming harvesters and the
Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
                                    Fiscal Summary
State Effect: None. The joint resolution does not directly affect State finances.
Local Effect: None.
Small Business Effect: None. Small businesses are not directly affected.
                                         Analysis
Current Law: The specified federal law referenced in the joint resolution is a definition
of “amenable species,” which are subject to regulation under USDA inspection
requirements. The definition includes all fish of the order Siluriformes.
                               Additional Information
Prior Introductions: SJ 3 of 2020 passed the Senate and was referred to the House Rules
and Executive Nominations Committee, but no further action was taken. Its cross file, HJ 3,
received a hearing in the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, but no
further action was taken.
Designated Cross File: HJ 1 (Delegate Stein) - Rules and Executive Nominations.
Information Source(s): Maryland Department of Agriculture; Department of Natural
Resources; Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History:      First Reader - January 18, 2021
rh/lgc                    Third Reader - February 5, 2021
Analysis by: Scott D. Kennedy                          Direct Inquiries to:
                                                       (410) 946-5510
                                                       (301) 970-5510
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