Environment

This Act allows for the composting of yard waste, food residuals, and other organic materials on property zoned for agricultural purposes. County governments may limit the square footage allowed for this activity, but must allow for at least 5000 square feet per 4 acres of property.

This Act updates the electric vehicle rebate program administered by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in light of changes to federal policies and market forces affecting electric vehicle deployment. The bill provides the Department with additional flexibility to set rebate amounts and improve programmatic offerings. The bill also allows enhanced rebates for an eventual program targeting lower income families.

This Act exempts food served in Level IV and Level V correctional facilities from restrictions on the use of polystyrene foam food service packaging. Scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2025, § 3004Q of Title 16 prohibits food establishments from providing ready-to-eat food in polystyrene foam food service packaging. This prohibition would create significant hardships and increase costs for the Department of Correction (“Department”), which uses polystyrene foam food service packaging in the course of providing over 14,000 meals per day to Department inmates.