EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0098*
SENATE BILL 98
C9 4lr0721
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Salling
Requested: September 27, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Department of Housing and Community Development – Food Desert Study 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to 3
conduct a study and make recommendations on reducing the number of food deserts 4
in the State; and generally relating to food deserts. 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That: 7
(a) In this section, “food desert” has the meaning stated in § 6–301 of the Housing 8
and Community Development Article. 9
(b) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall: 10
(1) study food deserts in the State; and 11
(2) make recommendations to reduce the number of food deserts in the 12
State. 13
(c) In conducting the study and making the recommendations, the Department 14
shall: 15
(1) review the food desert projects funded under § 6–308.3 of the Housing 16
and Community Development Article; 17
(2) analyze the location of food deserts in the State; and 18
(3) determine the impact of food deserts on the local population and 19
economy. 20
2 SENATE BILL 98
(d) On or before November 30, 2024, the Department shall submit a report of its 1
findings and recommendations, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 2
Article, to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the 3
House Environment and Transportation Committee. 4
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 5
1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of June 30, 2025, this 6
Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 7
further force and effect. 8