EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*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
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 17, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Department of Housing and Community Development Interagency Food Desert 2
Advisory Committee – Food Desert Study 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development 4
Interagency Food Desert Advisory Committee to conduct a study and make 5
recommendations on reducing the number of food deserts in the State; and generally 6
relating to food deserts. 7
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
That: 9
(a) In this section, “food desert” has the meaning stated in § 6–301 of the Housing 10
and Community Development Article. 11
(b) The Department of Housing and Community Development Interagency Food 12
Desert Advisory Committee shall: 13
(1) study food deserts in the State; and 14
(2) make recommendations: 15
(i) to reduce the number of food deserts in the State; and 16
2 SENATE BILL 98
(ii) regarding available funding sources for fresh food financing 1
initiatives and programs in the State. 2
(c) In conducting the study and making the recommendations, the Department 3
Committee shall: 4
(1) review the food desert projects funded under § 6–308.3 of the Housing 5
and Community Development Article; 6
(2) analyze the location of food deserts in the State; and 7
(3) determine the impact of food deserts on the local population and 8
economy; 9
(4) develop strategies to attract grocery stores and supermarket retailers 10
to food deserts, including identifying and analyzing anticipated costs; and 11
(5) review existing incentives and available financing programs 12
throughout the State to encourage the establishment of grocery stores and supermarket 13
retailers in identified food deserts. 14
(d) On or before November 30, 2024, the Department Committee shall submit a 15
report of its findings and recommendations, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 16
Government Article, to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment, 17
the Senate Finance Committee, and the House Environment and Transpor tation 18
Committee. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 20
1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of June 30, 2025, this 21
Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 22
further force and effect. 23
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.