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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1626*
HOUSE BILL 1626
M4 6lr3677
By: Delegate Metzgar
Introduced and read first time: February 23, 2026
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Agriculture – Access to Food 2
(Maryland Food Security, Access, and Equity Act) 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Food Security Coordination Office within the 4
Department of Agriculture; requiring the Office to administer a certain program and 5
perform certain duties; requiring the Department to establish a rural –to–urban 6
produce distribution program to connect local farmers with certain communities; 7
requiring the Department to establish the Maryland Rural –to–Urban Produce 8
Financing Program to provide financial assistance to certain individuals and entities 9
to fund certain projects; requiring the Department to establish a certain grant 10
program with certain purposes; requiring the Department to support partnerships 11
between h ealth care providers and certain organizations; authorizing the 12
Department to enter into certain contracts to develop, implement, and administer 13
certain programs; requiring the Department to publish annually a certain statewide 14
food security report; requiring the Department to adopt certain regulations on or 15
before a certain date; altering the Jane Lawton Farm–to–School Program to include 16
certain schools for eligibility under the Program; expanding the purpos e of the 17
Program to include the support of school gardens and nutrition education; and 18
generally relating to food security, access, and equity. 19
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
Article – Agriculture 21
Section 2–106 and 10–1601 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 24
BY adding to 25
Article – Agriculture 26
Section 2–2501 through 2–2511 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 25. Maryland 27
Food Security, Access, and Equity Act” 28
Annotated Code of Maryland 29
2 HOUSE BILL 1626
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 1
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 2
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 3
Article – Agriculture 4
2–106. 5
(a) The following positions and units are included within the Department: 6
(1) The Maryland Agricultural Fair Board; 7
(2) The Chief of Weights and Measures; 8
(3) The State Chemist; 9
(4) The State Veterinarian; 10
(5) The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners; 11
(6) The State Soil Conservation Committee; 12
(7) The Maryland Agricultural Commission; 13
(8) The Maryland Horse Industry Board; 14
(9) The Maryland Winery and Grape Growers’ Advisory Board; 15
(10) The Seafood Marketing Advisory Commission; [and] 16
(11) The State Specialist for Value–Added Agriculture; AND 17
(12) THE FOOD SECURITY COORDINATION OFFICE. 18
(b) The Secretary shall appoint the State Chemist, State Veterinarian, State 19
Specialist for Value–Added Agriculture, and Chief of Weights and Measures. 20
(c) The Department also includes any other position or unit which is declared 21
within the Department pursuant to law. 22
SUBTITLE 25. MARYLAND FOOD SECURITY, ACCESS, AND EQUITY ACT. 23
2–2501. 24
HOUSE BILL 1626 3
IN THIS SUBTITLE , “FOOD INSECURITY ” MEANS LIMITED OR UNC ERTAIN 1
ACCESS TO ADEQUATE OR NUTRITIOUS FOOD. 2
2–2502. 3
THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUBT ITLE IS TO STRENGTHE N THE STATE FOOD 4
SYSTEM BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS, SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS 5
BY IMPROVING FOOD DI STRIBUTION NETWORKS, AND COORDINATING STA TEWIDE 6
EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE FOOD INSECURITY. 7
2–2503. 8
THE FOOD SECURITY COORDINATING OFFICE SHALL ADMINISTER THIS 9
SUBTITLE AND: 10
(1) COORDINATE STATEWIDE FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVES; 11
(2) SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL FARMER S, FOOD 12
DISTRIBUTORS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS; 13
(3) MAINTAIN A STATEWIDE DATA DASHBOARD ON FOOD ACCESS AND 14
FOOD INSECURITY; AND 15
(4) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO 16
ELIMINATE FOOD INSECURITY. 17
2–2504. 18
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A RURAL –TO–URBAN PRODUCE 19
DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM TO CONNECT LOCAL FAR MERS WITH URBAN AND 20
SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY BY: 21
(1) CREATING FOOD AGGREGATION AND DISTRIBUTION HUBS; 22
(2) SUPPORTING THE TRANSPORTATION OF FO OD FROM LOCAL 23
FARMERS TO URBAN AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES; 24
(3) IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE FOR THE FOOD 25
COLD CHAIN; AND 26
(4) ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL FARMERS, FOOD 27
BANKS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY MARKETS. 28
4 HOUSE BILL 1626
2–2505. 1
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 2
INDICATED. 3
(2) “FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ” INCLUDES GRANTS , LOW– OR 4
NO–INTEREST LOANS, OR OTHER ASSISTANCE THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES TO 5
BE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THIS SECTION. 6
(3) “PROJECT” MEANS: 7
(I) COLD CHAIN FACILITIES; 8
(II) TRANSPORTATION FLEETS AND LOGISTICS SYSTEMS; 9
(III) RURAL AGGREGATION HUBS; 10
(IV) URBAN AND SUBURBAN DISTRIBUTION CENTERS; AND 11
(V) TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS FOR ROUTING, TRACKING, AND 12
INVENTORY CONTROL. 13
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH THE MARYLAND 14
RURAL–TO–URBAN PRODUCE FINANCING PROGRAM TO FUND PROJECTS THAT 15
STABILIZE AND EXPAND THE MOVEMENT OF MARYLAND–GROWN PRODUCE TO 16
URBAN AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES WITH FOOD INSECURITY. 17
(C) THE MARYLAND RURAL–TO–URBAN PRODUCE FINANCING PROGRAM 18
SHALL: 19
(1) PROVIDE LOW – OR NO –INTEREST, PERFORMANCE–BASED 20
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT IMPACT THE AGGREGATION, 21
TRANSPORTATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCE GROWN IN THE STATE; 22
(2) REDUCE FINANCIAL BARRIERS THAT MAY LIMIT THE ABILITY OF 23
SMALL AND MID –SIZED FARMERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE R URAL–TO–URBAN AND 24
SUBURBAN FOOD DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS; 25
(3) STRENGTHEN THE STATE’S LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY BY 26
IMPROVING ACCESS TO FRESH, NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE FOOD 27
INSECURE; AND 28
HOUSE BILL 1626 5
(4) PROVIDE LONG–TERM AND SELF–SUSTAINING INFRASTRUCTURE 1
THAT SUPPORTS ACCESS TO MARYLAND–GROWN PRODUCE. 2
(D) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH FINANCIAL MECH ANISMS, 3
INCLUDING BOND ISSUANCE, TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO: 4
(I) LOCAL FARMERS AND FARMING COOPERATIVES; 5
(II) NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY–BASED ORGANIZATIONS; 6
(III) FOOD HUBS AND OTHER FOOD DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS; 7
(IV) LOCAL GOVERNMENTS; AND 8
(V) SOCIAL–ENTERPRISE ENTITIES THAT ARE ENGAGED IN 9
INCREASING ACCESS TO FOOD. 10
(2) TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AN ENTITY LISTED UND ER 11
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL: 12
(I) DEMONSTRATE A PLAN TO DELIVER MARYLAND–GROWN 13
PRODUCE TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE FOOD INSECURE; AND 14
(II) HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MEET PERFORMANCE MET RICS 15
ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT. 16
(E) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL: 17
(1) ESTABLISH PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS, INCLUDING THOSE 18
RELATED TO INCREASING ACCESS TO FOOD; AND 19
(2) PRIORITIZE THE PROVISION OF FIN ANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 20
PROJECTS THAT WILL D IRECTLY INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF PROD UCE TO 21
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE FOOD INSECURE. 22
(F) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH LOCAL 23
FARMERS, FARMING COOPERATIVES , FOOD DISTRIBUTORS , AND OTHER 24
ORGANIZATIONS AS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THIS SECTION. 25
2–2506. 26
(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE 27
GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS TO: 28
6 HOUSE BILL 1626
(1) EXPAND COMMUNITY AND MOBILE MARKETS; 1
(2) SUPPORT URBAN AGRICULTURE AND COMMUNITY GARDENS; AND 2
(3) INCREASE ACCESS TO CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOODS. 3
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH: 4
(1) GRANT APPLICATION PROCEDURES; 5
(2) GRANT AWARD CRITERIA; AND 6
(3) GRANT AMOUNTS. 7
(C) ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1 EACH YEAR, RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS IN 8
THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR SHALL REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT ON THE 9
OUTCOMES OF THE GRANTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE RECIPIENTS’ COMMUNITIES. 10
2–2507. 11
(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN HEALTH 12
CARE PROVIDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE ACCESS TO FOOD THROUGH 13
PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS, MEDICALLY TAILORED G ROCERIES, AND 14
NUTRITION EDUCATION. 15
(B) HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN A PAR TNERSHIP 16
SHALL TRACK PATIENT HEALTH OUTCOMES AND REPORT THE OUTCO MES TO THE 17
DEPARTMENT. 18
2–2508. 19
(A) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH THIRD PARTIES 20
TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND ADMINISTER THE PROVISIONS OF TH IS SUBTITLE, 21
INCLUDING: 22
(1) PROGRAM DESIGN AND OPERATIONAL PLANNING; 23
(2) TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DATA SYSTEMS; 24
(3) DISTRIBUTION AND COORDINATION LOGISTICS; AND 25
(4) EVALUATION AND REPORTING FUNCTIONS. 26
HOUSE BILL 1626 7
(B) A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL: 1
(1) HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXPERTISE IN FOOD SYSTEMS, LOGISTICS, 2
AGRICULTURE, OR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION; 3
(2) COMPLY WITH STATE PROCUREMENT LAW S UNDER DIVISION II 4
OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE; AND 5
(3) HAVE THE CAPABILITY T O MEET PERFORMANCE B ENCHMARKS 6
AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT. 7
(C) THE DEPARTMENT MAY AUDIT A THIRD PARTY AWARDED A CONTRACT 8
UNDER THIS SECTION. 9
2–2509. 10
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBLISH ANNUALLY ON ITS WEBSITE A STATEWIDE 11
FOOD SECURITY REPORT THAT INCLUDES: 12
(1) RATES OF FOOD INSECURITY IN EACH COUNTY; 13
(2) PARTICIPATION RATES FOR PROGRAMS ESTABLI SHED UNDER 14
THIS SUBTITLE; 15
(3) METRICS FOR THE DISTR IBUTION OF FOOD AND OTHER 16
RESOURCES UNDER THIS SUBTITLE; AND 17
(4) THE IMPACT OF THIS SUBTITLE ON LOCAL FARMERS. 18
2–2510. 19
ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2027, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T 20
REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THIS SUBTITLE. 21
2–2511. 22
THIS SUBTITLE SHALL BE REFERRED TO AS THE MARYLAND FOOD SECURITY, 23
ACCESS, AND EQUITY ACT. 24
10–1601. 25
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 26
8 HOUSE BILL 1626
(2) “Farm product” means any agricultural, horticultural, vegetable, fruit 1
product, whether raw, canned, frozen, dried, pickled, or otherwise processed, livestock, 2
meats, marine food products, poultry, eggs, dairy products, nuts, honey, and every edible 3
product of farm, orchard, garden, or water. 4
(3) “Program” means the Jane Lawton Farm–to–School Program. 5
(4) “SCHOOL” INCLUDES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PREKINDERGARTEN 6
PROGRAMS, CHILD CARE FACILITIE S, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 7
PROGRAMS. 8
(b) There is a Jane Lawton Farm–to–School Program in the Department. 9
(c) The Program is established for the purpose of: 10
(1) Promoting the sale of farm p roducts grown in the State to Maryland 11
schools in consultation with the State Department of Education; 12
(2) Soliciting farmers to sell their farm products to Maryland schools; 13
(3) Developing and regularly updating a database of farmers interested in 14
selling their farm products to Maryland schools, including the types and amounts of farm 15
products the farmers want to sell and the time periods in which the farmers want to sell; 16
(4) Facilitating purchases from farmers by interested Maryland schools in 17
consultation with the State Department of Education and in compliance with applicable 18
procurement requirements; [and] 19
(5) Providing outreach and guidance to farmers concerning the value of and 20
procedure for selling their farm products to interested Maryland schools; AND 21
(6) SUPPORTING SCHOOL GARDENS AND NUTRITION EDUCATION. 22
(d) (1) The Program, in partnership with the State Department of Education 23
and in consultation with school food service directors and interested farming organizations, 24
shall establish promotional events that promote State agriculture and farm products to 25
children through school meal and classroom programs. 26
(2) At least one promotional event shall: 27
(i) Last for a period of 1 week; 28
(ii) Be known as “Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week”; 29
(iii) Promote State agriculture and farm products to children through 30
school meal and classroom programs; and 31
HOUSE BILL 1626 9
(iv) Arrange for interaction between students and farmers through 1
promotional activities that may include field trips to farms and in–school presentations by 2
farmers. 3
(e) On or before January 1 of each year, each local educational agency AND 4
SCHOOL participating in the Program shall report to the Department the types and 5
amounts of farm products purchased from farms in the State. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 7
1, 2026. 8