Food Establishments - Portable Chemical Toilets

SB 544 allows specific types of food establishments - agritourism businesses, Class 4 wineries, and Class 8 farm breweries - to use portable chemical toilets instead of permanent restrooms to meet Maryland's health code requirements for public lavatories. The bill amends Section 21-325 of the Maryland Annotated Code to permit this option, provided the portable toilet meets all existing standards: it must be sanitary, properly ventilated, and equipped with soap/water and hand-drying supplies. This change applies only to the three designated business types and does not alter requirements for other food establishments. The law takes effect June 1, 2025.