Bill > HB506

This bill establishes the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program to support agricultural practices that improve environmental sustainability and community engagement. The program aims to reduce nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, mitigate farm emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and enhance farm profitability. It creates a new LEEF Program Fund with an annual state appropriation of at least $900,000, which will support various conservation and community best practices such as conservation tillage, cover crop plantings, nutrient reduction, wildlife habitat conservation, and installation of natural buffers. The bill expands the definition of "healthy soils" to include regenerative practices that draw on African, Indigenous, and original land stewards' traditions, emphasizing culturally important food and climate justice programs. Additionally, the bill modifies fishing license requirements, exempting certain fishers from needing a food establishment license, and establishes a Water Quality Monitoring Program to provide consistent statewide water quality data collection and assessment. The LEEF Program will create tiers of recognition for agricultural producers who voluntarily adopt multiple conservation and community practices, with a focus on environmental, social, and climate resiliency benefits. The program will be administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, which will develop evaluation criteria and coordinate with various state agencies and advisory commissions. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will remain in effect for five years.

Education, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0506?ys=2025RS