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HB 262 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Department of Agriculture - Maryland Agricultural Commission and Young Farmers

HB 262 revises the membership structure of Maryland's Agricultural Commission to add specific representation for new and beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, veteran farmers, and young farmers. It replaces the existing Young Farmers Advisory Board with a new "Committee on Young Farmers" that will directly communicate with the Commission about issues affecting young farmers. The bill updates Commission membership requirements to include dedicated seats for these groups, ensuring their perspectives are integrated into agricultural policy decisions. These changes aim to provide structured input for young farmers in state agricultural planning and rulemaking.
Issues: ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds veteran farmers to Agricultural Commission membership, recognizing their agricultural role and ensuring representation in policy discussions.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2024
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Sep 28, 2024 Signed Apr 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Department of Agriculture - Maryland Agricultural Commission and Young Farmers → Third - Department of Agriculture - Maryland Agricultural Commission and Young Farmers · 4 edits
MODERATE
HB 262 was amended to advance from first to third reading, adding a favorable committee report and House adoption. The bill now includes an additional repealed statute section (2-503(a)(1)(ii)) and adds Delegate Holmes as a sponsor. The core legislative text regarding the Maryland Agricultural Commission membership structure remains largely unchanged from the previous version.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding the Maryland Agricultural Commission membership composition remains unchanged; the primary changes are procedural (committee report, House adoption) and a minor addition to the list of repealed statutes.
PROCEDURAL

Added 'Committee Report: Favorable with amendments' and 'House action: Adopted' indicating the bill has passed committee review and the House chamber.

Added Delegate Holmes as a co-sponsor alongside the original sponsor (Chair, Environment and Transportation Committee).

SCOPE

Added Section 2-503(a)(1)(ii) to the list of repealed statutes, expanding the scope of laws being repealed to include one additional section.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting adjustments including page number reorganization and addition of 'Underlining indicates amendments to bill' to the explanation section.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Apr 8, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 43
executive
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Returned Passed
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Committee
Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Feb 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation
lower
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
First Reading Environment and Transportation
lower
Sep 28, 2024
Introduced
Pre-filed
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.