Hunting - Restrictions of Venison Donation
Sponsor: Karen Lewis Young (District 3)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Hunting and FishingStatus: First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations (as of Sep 4, 2026)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to prohibit the donation of certain processed venison to certain entities unless the deer was harvested using nonlead ammunition or a bow and arrow; and establishing that a person who violates the Act is subject to a civil fine not exceeding $750.
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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.
Testimony (45)
MGA witness listFAV 29FavorableUNF 15UnfavorableINFO 1Information only
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Ahwesh, Natalie | Animal Wellness Action | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Keen, Dr. Jim | Animal Wellness Action | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Pacelle, Wayne | Animal Wellness Action | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Swanson, Taylor | Assateague Coastal Trust | Position only |
| FAV | Ashe, Daniel | Association of Zoos and Aquariums | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Brown, Jim | Audubon Mid-Atlantic | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Demiray, Sonia | Climate Communications Coalition | Position only |
| FAV | Leslie, Elaine | CpNP | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Williams, Ted | Freelance Writer | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Roshong, Riley | Green & Healthy Homes Initiative | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Todd, Robin | Maryland Ornithological Society | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Radov, Lisa | Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc. | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Millsap, Brian | None | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Wu, Dorje | PEER | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Ford, Benjamin | ShoreRivers | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Kaplowitz, Richard KAP | Year | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Dickerson, Aisha | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Feigin, Valery | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Harris, Mrs. | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Holcomb, Karen | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Lanphear, Bruce | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Lewis Young, Senator Karen | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Merskin, Debra | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Miller, Susanlobbyist | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Pokras, Mark | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Senator Lewis Young, Senator Lewis Younglegislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Smith, Donald | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Soukup, Mike | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Winch, Peter | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Josselyn, Johnlobbyist | 2A Maryland | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Schroyer, Joe | Allegany-Garrett Sportsmen's Assn | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Leager, Kaleigh | Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Hough, Tylerlobbyist | Maryland Farm Bureau | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Pennak, Mark | Maryland Shall Issue, Inc. | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Frederick, Beebe | Safari Club International (SCI) | Oral |
| UNF | Mooney, Karla | TWAW / DC Project / MSI | Position only |
| UNF | Andraka, Nicholas | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Beck, Sean | Individual | Oral |
| UNF | Gross, Kenneth | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Kasuba, Thomas | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Rosa, Richard | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Thompson, Lindsaylobbyist | Individual | Oral |
| UNF | Tibbals, Trudy | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Wright, Cathy | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| INFO | Baucum Colbert, Jordan | M-NCPPC - Senior Government Analyst | Written (PDF) |
Organizations on record
2A MarylandUNF 1
Audubon Mid-AtlanticFAV 1
CpNPFAV 1
Freelance WriterFAV 1
Maryland Farm BureauUNF 1
NoneFAV 1
PEERFAV 1
ShoreRiversFAV 1
YearFAV 1
Registered lobbyists who testified
UNFJosselyn, John2A MarylandRegistered for: 2A Maryland; Baltimore County Game & Fish Protective Association
UNFThompson, LindsayRegistered for: Alliance to Prevent Legionnaire's Disease; American Farmland Trust; CropLife America; Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association; Denali Water Solutions; Horizon Farm Credit…
