Agriculture - Controlled-Environment and Hydroponic Agriculture

HB 1342 creates a new Maryland Controlled-Environment and Hydroponic Agriculture Program Fund to provide grants for farmers establishing or expanding indoor or water-based farming facilities. It requires the Department of Agriculture to create a centralized online portal with permitting and licensing information for these farms, and mandates local governments to adopt zoning rules allowing such agriculture in urban areas. The bill also sets procurement targets for state agencies to buy food from certified local farms using these methods and permanently increases funding for the existing Urban Agriculture Water and Power Infrastructure Grant Fund. These changes directly affect hydroponic and controlled-environment farmers, community colleges offering workforce training, and local zoning authorities.