HB 42 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

On-Farm Organics and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Grant Programs - Established

HB 42 establishes two grant programs to reduce food waste and promote organics recycling in Maryland. It creates a surcharge on the final disposal of solid waste collected from waste disposal operators, with funds deposited into a dedicated "Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Fund" to support these programs. The On-Farm Organics Grant Program (managed by the Department of Agriculture) provides grants to farmers, urban farmers, soil conservation districts, and related entities for composting, food rescue, and waste prevention on agricultural operations. The Wasted Food Reduction Grant Program (managed by the Department of the Environment) funds community projects - like infrastructure, education, and food rescue initiatives - that prevent, rescue, and divert wasted food across the state.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2024

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Nov 1, 2024 Last action Mar 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Solid Waste Disposal Surcharge and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Fund and Grant Programs - Established → Third - On-Farm Organics and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Grant Programs - Established · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add new sponsors and include a favorable committee report with House adoption. The title and purpose sections were updated to explicitly include 'On-Farm Organics' alongside 'Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion.' The substantive legal text regarding grant programs, eligibility, and project requirements appears unchanged, with most modifications being formatting and structural adjustments to the bill document itself.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on establishing grant programs for on-farm organics diversion and wasted food reduction, with no substantive changes to the programs' operational scope or applicability.

PROCEDURAL

Added new sponsors (Delegates Healey, Lehman, R. Lewis, Ruth, and Stein) to the bill, expanding the coalition of supporters.

Added committee report status showing the bill was favorably amended and adopted by the House, indicating legislative progress.

TITLE

Updated the bill title to explicitly include 'On-Farm Organics' in the description of the fund and grant programs.

PURPOSE

Added language to the purpose section authorizing the Governor to transfer funds from the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to certain programs in specific fiscal years.

TECHNICAL

Removed and reorganized explanatory notes regarding how amendments are indicated in the bill text (e.g., strike-through and underlining conventions).

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2025

How they voted

120–14

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 139

Mar 9, 2025

D Democratic100

97 Yea 3

97% Yea

R Republican39

23 Yea 14 Nay 2

58% 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 Education, Energy, and the Environment Budget and Taxation

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 (120-14-5)

house of delegates

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

First Reading Environment and Transportation

lower

Nov 1, 2024

Introduced

Pre-filed

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors