Bill > HB272

This bill modifies regulations for certain food establishments and on-farm food service facilities. Specifically, it allows food establishments involved in agritourism, limited wineries, and farm breweries to use a portable toilet, rather than a chemical toilet, to meet lavatory requirements, as long as it's placed at least 25 feet from a well. For on-farm food service facilities, which are businesses on a farm that serve food, the bill establishes that the Maryland Department of Health will set the license fee based on the costs of licensing and inspection, with a cap of $100, and that these licenses will be valid for one year. The Department will also develop regulations for these on-farm facilities, in consultation with other agencies and stakeholders, covering aspects like water access, waste management, outdoor cooking, and the use of farm structures for food preparation and seating, while clarifying that these regulations do not override local building, zoning, or public health laws, nor grant the Department authority over property valuation or taxation.