HB 1434 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Food System Resiliency Council - Healthy Food Priority Area Study

HB 1434 establishes a 13-member Food Deserts Workgroup to study areas in Maryland with limited access to affordable, nutritious food (known as "food deserts"). The Workgroup, including state agency secretaries, county representatives, and community stakeholders, must analyze health and economic impacts of food deserts and assess strategies to attract grocery stores by November 1, 2025. It will produce a report with recommendations for eliminating food deserts, to be submitted to the Governor and relevant legislative committees. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2026, and does not create new funding or regulations - only a study process.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Last action Mar 17, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Food Deserts Workgroup - Establishment → Third - Maryland Food System Resiliency Council - Healthy Food Priority Area Study · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was expanded to include the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council in addition to the Food Deserts Workgroup. The Council is now tasked with assessing strategies to attract and retain grocery stores in healthy food priority areas, while the Workgroup continues its original analysis of food deserts. The bill also added a definition for 'healthy food priority area' and adjusted the reporting deadline to December 31, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened to include both the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council and the Food Deserts Workgroup, with the Council focusing on supermarket retention strategies and the Workgroup focusing on food desert analysis.

SCOPE

Added the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council as a new entity with specific responsibilities to assess strategies for attracting and retaining grocery stores in healthy food priority areas.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'healthy food priority area' as a predominantly low-income area with limited access to affordable, healthy food retail outlets.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the Workgroup's duties to include preparing a report on the Council's findings regarding strategies to attract and retain grocery stores in healthy food priority areas.

Added a requirement for the Council to prepare a report on its findings and recommendations regarding strategies to attract and retain grocery stores in healthy food priority areas.

TIMELINE

Changed the report submission deadline from November 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2025

How they voted

126–10

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 139

Mar 9, 2025

D Democratic100

99 Yea 1

99% Yea

R Republican39

27 Yea 10 Nay 2

69% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation

lower

Mar 9, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (126-10-3)

house of delegates

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

First Reading Environment and Transportation

lower

11 primary · 0 co-sponsors