EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1228*
HOUSE BILL 1228
L1, C8 5lr1227
By: Montgomery County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Department of Commerce – Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve Study 2
MC 15–25 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Commerce to study the tourist and visitor 4
economy of the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve and, on or before a certain 5
date, report its findings to the members of the Montgomery County Delegation to the 6
General Assembly; and generally relating to the Montgomery County Agricultural 7
Reserve. 8
Preamble 9
WHEREAS, There has been a consensus for decades in Montgomery County in 10
support of preserving the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, a large segment of 11
which is located in western Montgomery County; and 12
WHEREAS, The Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve was founded with the 13
principal goal of preserving open space and land for agriculture; and 14
WHEREAS, Farming remains the foundation of the Montgomery County 15
Agricultural Reserve and Montgomery County has established a Department of Agriculture 16
to help promote, support, and preserve farming and farmland; and 17
WHEREAS, The farming economy is a key focus of Montgomery County and its 18
Department of Agriculture and the farming economy is monitored and studied 19
continuously; and 20
WHEREAS, Outside of farming, a significant part of the land in the Montgomery 21
County Agricultural Reserve exists in the form of woodlands, open spaces, parks, historic 22
sites, and recreation areas of various kinds; and 23
2 HOUSE BILL 1228
WHEREAS, Small nonprofit organizations and businesses are a major part of the 1
Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve and these organizations and businesses are 2
reliant on tourists and visitors, both locally and from throughout the Washington 3
metropolitan area, to support their operations; now, therefore, 4
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
That: 6
(a) The Department of Commerce shall study the tourist and visitor economy of 7
the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve to develop: 8
(1) a deeper understanding of the tourist and visitor sector of the 9
Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve due to these sectors being not as well understood 10
as the agricultural sector of the reserve; and 11
(2) policies and recommendations to help the Montgomery County 12
Agricultural Reserve thrive. 13
(b) In conducting the study required under subsection (a) of this section, the 14
Department of Commerce shall: 15
(1) (i) establish a geofence around the Mon tgomery County 16
Agricultural Reserve and other key attractions in the area; and 17
(ii) use geolocation technology to gather information on visitor 18
volume and how those visitors interact with other parts of the regional economy; 19
(2) engage with visitors, including by surveying visitors, to gather 20
information about visitor behavior and attitudes; 21
(3) consider whether in–depth interviews with residents, businesses, and 22
other stakeholders are necessary; and 23
(4) review existing data models to gather information on the upstream and 24
downstream impacts of visitation to the region. 25
(c) The Department of Commerce may consult with government agencies, 26
academic institutions, and stakeholders to complete the study required under this section. 27
(d) (1) On or before June 30, 2026, the Department of Commerce shall report 28
the findings of the study required under this section, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the 29
State Government Article, to the members of the Montgomery County Delegation to the 30
General Assembly. 31
(2) In considering the data and its findings, the Department shall: 32
HOUSE BILL 1228 3
(i) examine how tourists and visitors view the Montgomery County 1
Agricultural Reserve, including why they visit, where they came from, and what attractions 2
they found most compelling and why; 3
(ii) 1. identify the small businesses, recreation sites, and historic 4
sites that are located in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve; and 5
2. A. analyze how tourism and visitors contribute to 6
these operations and their success; 7
B. assess and evaluate the barriers that may deter visitors 8
from coming to the reserve; and 9
C. develop an overall assessment of the economic impact of 10
tourism in the reserve; and 11
(iii) make recommendations regarding policies and programs that 12
can help promote and preserve the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve and better 13
support the small businesses, recreation sites, and historic sites that depend on the visitor 14
and tourist economy. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 16
1, 2025. 17