HB 429

On-Farm Organics Diversion and Recycling Grant Program - Established

Sponsor: Regina T. Boyce (District 43A)Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: EnvironmentStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 250 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing, beginning July 1, 2028, the On-Farm Organics Diversion and Recycling Grant Program in the Department of Agriculture to award grants to eligible entities to develop and implement on-farm organics recycling, compost use, wasted food prevention, and food rescue; requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $250,000 for the program; and requiring the Department, beginning December 31, 2028, to annually report to the General Assembly on the impact of the grant program.

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Testimony (29)

MGA witness list

FAV 27FavorableINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Stegman, Matt	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Position only
FAV	Boyce, Delegate Regina T.	Delegate Regina T. Boyce	Written (PDF)
FAV	Organization, HoCo Climate Action	HoCo Climate Action	Position only
FAV	Shepter, Brian	Howard County Executive	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jones, Sophia	Institute for Local Self-Reliance	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Ziegler, Natalie	Legislative Rural Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	Feighner, Liz	Less Plastic Please	Position only
FAV	Feighner, Liz	Liz Feighner, self	Position only
FAV	Richardson, Joe	Lunch Out of Landfills	Oral
FAV	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Zelaya, Michellelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Capodanno, Matthewlobbyist	Maryland Food Bank	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Miller, Chaz	Maryland Recycling Network	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Price, Sarahlobbyist	Maryland Retailers Alliance	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ainsworth, Martha	Maryland Sierra Club	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fitzgerald, Garrett	Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection	Written (PDF)
FAV	Nicholas, Betsy	Potomac Riverkeeper Network	Position only
FAV	Snow, Ryanlobbyist	R&R Solutions	Written (PDF)
FAV	Doordan, Kellylobbyist	Trash Free Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Arndt, Dave	Individual	Position only
FAV	Delegate Boyce, Delegate Boycelegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Ranson, Emilylobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schmidt-Perkins, Dru	Individual	Oral
FAV	Taylor, Tom	Individual	Position only
FAV	Thompson, Lindsaylobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Palmer, Harrison	Maryland Department of Agriculture	Written (PDF)
INFO	Baker, Jeremy D	Maryland Department of the Environment	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 1

Delegate Regina T. BoyceFAV 1

HoCo Climate ActionFAV 1

Howard County ExecutiveFAV 1

Institute for Local Self-RelianceFAV 1

Legislative Rural CaucusFAV 1

Less Plastic PleaseFAV 1

Liz Feighner, selfFAV 1

Lunch Out of LandfillsFAV 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland Department of AgricultureINFO 1

Maryland Department of the EnvironmentINFO 1

Maryland Food BankFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Recycling NetworkFAV 1

Maryland Retailers AllianceFAV 1

Maryland Sierra ClubFAV 1

Montgomery County Department of Environmental ProtectionFAV 1

Potomac Riverkeeper NetworkFAV 1

R&R SolutionsFAV 1

Trash Free MarylandFAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVZelaya, MichelleMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVCapodanno, MatthewMaryland Food BankRegistered for: Maryland Food Bank

FAVPrice, SarahMaryland Retailers AllianceRegistered for: Maryland Retailers Alliance; Maryland Retailers Association

FAVSnow, RyanR&R SolutionsRegistered for: Araminta USA; Dorchester County, Maryland; For All Seasons; Maryland Farm Bureau; Talbot Watermen's Association; Tetrus Corp.…

FAVDoordan, KellyTrash Free MarylandRegistered for: Trash Free Maryland

FAVRanson, EmilyRegistered for: Clean Water Action

FAVThompson, LindsayRegistered for: Alliance to Prevent Legionnaire's Disease; American Farmland Trust; CropLife America; Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association; Denali Water Solutions; Horizon Farm Credit…