Bill > HB1342

This bill expands support for controlled-environment and hydroponic agriculture in Maryland by authorizing grants to these farmers through the Urban Agriculture Water and Power Infrastructure Grant Fund, which will now explicitly include them alongside urban agricultural producers and qualified nonprofit organizations for equipment like water meters and electrical lines. It also mandates the Department of Agriculture to create a "one-stop portal" on its website as a central resource for information on permits and licenses related to this type of farming. Furthermore, the bill establishes a new Maryland Controlled-Environment and Hydroponic Agriculture Program Fund to provide grants for capital or operating costs associated with establishing, expanding, or maintaining these facilities, as well as for technical assistance. Additionally, it modifies the Partnership for Workforce Quality Program to specifically include training assistance for a controlled-environment and hydroponic agriculture workforce training initiative at community colleges, and it introduces new procurement goals for state agencies to purchase food from certified local farms utilizing controlled-environment or hydroponic agriculture, starting at 1% in fiscal year 2028 and increasing to 5% by fiscal year 2030.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1342?ys=2026RS