MASCD ADVOCACY TOOLKIT
Our Members’ Guide to Promoting Conservation
While MASCD works with our lobbyists and partners that support our goals, there is nothing more effective than our local members speaking to the importance of conservation priorities in their own words.Â
Our state elected decision makers need to hear from our members to better understand the role county conservation staff plan in supporting successful farms, protecting our drinking water, and bringing in dollars for their communities.
Our update for 2027 is in progress- check back soon!
Our Key Priorities in 2026… 2027 Coming Soon
Preserve the Trust Fund
The Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund supports 50+ technical assistance positions throughout the state, half of the cover crop program funding, and other conservation programs that have been critical to our success. This funding was under threat in 2025, so it’s critical to let our officials know how important it is!
Restore Funding for MACS
The Maryland Agricultural Cost-Share Program typically receives $8 million each year that supports a wide diversity of agricultural projects, but last year the fund was zeroed out. The stated intention in the budget was to restore funding in 2026. This year, we need to remind our officials and make sure to follow through on that plan.
Key Dates During Maryland’s Legislative Session
- November 20, 2026: Statutory deadline to request prefile bill* drafting from the Department of Legislative Services (DLS).
- December 10, 2026: Final deadline to direct DLS in writing to introduce a prefiled bill.
Take Action: It’s a good time to reach out to legislators to set a meeting for our Day in Annapolis on February 17!
*What’s a prefile bill? A prefiled bill is legislation drafted, formally printed, and submitted before the General Assembly session officially opens in January. The primary goal is to gain early committee placement and faster processing.
- January 13, 2027: Opening Day—The General Assembly convenes at noon in Annapolis.
- January 20, 2027: Gubernatorial Inauguration Day.
- January 22, 2027: Final date for the Governor to introduce the state budget bill to the General Assembly. It’s also the deadline for legislators to submit drafting requests to DLS to guarantee the bill is prepared in time for early introduction deadlines.
Take Action: Keep an eye out for Providence Strategies to start their weekly legislative calls to talk about bills and upcoming bill hearings. Send us an email if you’re not already on the list to receive notifications about upcoming calls.
- February 8, 2027 (27th Day): Senate bill introduction deadline.
- February 12, 2027 (31st Day): House bill introduction deadline.
- February 16, 2027: MASCD’s Winter Meeting
- February 17, 2027: MASCD’s Day in Annapolis to meet with your legislators.
- March 23, 2027- Crossover Date– The deadline for each chamber to pass and send its bills to the opposite house. Each Chamber to send to other Chamber those bills it intends to pass favorably. Opposite Chamber bills received after this date subject to referral to Rules Committees.Â
Take Action: Stay up to date on scheduled hearings where MASCD should have representation
- April 5, 2027 (83rd Day): Constitutional trigger date requiring the budget bill to be passed by both chambers.
- April 12, 2027 (90th Day): Sine Die—Adjournment of the 90-day session at midnight.
Take Action
We designed this Toolkit with accompanying Budget Action Checklist to help our members get started, track, and share your advocacy success! Check out the resources below to help you accomplish the items on your list.
Get to Know the Issues
The first step is making sure you are familiar with MASCD’s budget priorities. It’s important to know our specific requests and the messaging we are using to promote the work of our members and locally led conservation.Â
Attend MASCD’s Winter Meeting
Learn about this year’s legislative session and invite your elected officials to join us for breakfast.
Legislative Priorities Handout
Download our one-page list of budget priorities, and be sure to share this with your local elected officials.Â
Attend an MASCD Legislative Update
Join us on our weekly calls to update members on current bills and the budget outlook. Contact Mike Mason to receive a meeting link.
Engage with Your Representatives
Building relationships with elected officials is key to advancing our conservation priorities. We encourage you to call your representatives early and often. We want them to be familiar with our work and understand the value of our people so they can better consider our budget requests. Here are some ways you can connect with your legislators.
Organize a Visit
Prefer to engage with your local officials on home turf? Learn how to host a visit with this how-to guide.
Make Your Ask
Whether at MASCD’s “Day in Annapolis” or another opportunity, we have tips for a productive meeting.Â
Show Your Support
Elected officials hear from a lot of their constituents throughout the session, and it can be hard to cut through the noise. It can be very effective to for representatives to hear from you at the right time during budget or bill hearings. You can find out when these opportunities are coming up through our weekly updates (see above).
Attend a Hearing
Showing up in person to attend a hearing or to testify is an effective way to show your support and ensure you’re heard. Mike Mason or Jen Nelson can help guide you on the schedule to attend and process to testify.Â
Call or Send a Letter
At critical junctures during session, consider writing a letter to support MASCD’s policy positions and budget asks. We’ll help by providing template language that you can modify as needed.
Keep us updated!
Feedback is vital to our effort. Let us know how you’ve engaged, who you talked to, how it went, and if there are more ways we can support you in advocating for conservation and the districts.
State Budget & Advocacy FAQs
Funding for conservation districts has been distributed in a few different places in the budget. A few of our priorities include:
- Funding for staff is included in operations funding for MDA as well as the Chesapeake Trust Fund.
- The Cover Crop Program is funded in part through the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, and partly through the Bay Restoration Fund. Funding ranges from $21 million – $23 million
- The Maryland Agricultural Cost-Share Program has been funded at $8 million, with exception of 2025 when this budget was zeroed out with the stated intention to restore those funds in future years. Â
Providence Strategies does a fantastic job of communicating with our elected officials and staff throughout session, and in working with our members to keep them up to date on issues.
Often though, elected officials need to hear from their own constituents who are directly affected by legislation. No one can tell your story better than you can!
Staff is often valuable to meet with because they do a lot of the legwork to shape legislation.
You can (and should!) also look for other opportunities to talk with your representatives outside of our Day in Annapolis.
There’s not one “most effective way” to advocate. Hopefully, the “Budget Action Checklist” helps you identify a few actions that work for you.
The most important thing is that your elected officials hear from you! Developing a relationship with your local officials will pay dividends over time.
Additional ResourcesÂ
Click here for a quick primer on how a bill becomes a law in Maryland.Â
Find additional advocacy resources on the “Resources for SCDs” tab, including
- How to find contact information for your local elected officials
- Our Advocacy Training Webinar from 2025
- Our “10 Reasons to Say Yes to Conservation Districts” factsheet for elected officials that are unfamiliar with theÂ
- NACD Resources
- and more…Â