ACT TODAY: Agritourism Hearing in Annapolis, MD

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Subject: ACT TODAY: Agritourism Hearing in Annapolis, MD

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Action Alert: Act Now to Expand Agritourism!

Dear Friend,

Maryland House Bill 272, originally introduced in 2025, has been revived. The bill alters existing Maryland law regarding food establishments in order to expand agritourism.

The MD House Health Committee is holding a hearing at 1:00 pm ET on Wednesday, February 4 in the House Office Building, Room 240, Annapolis, MD.

If you decide to testify, you will need to sign up TODAY: Monday, February 2^nd before 6:00 pm ET.

Keep reading to learn more about the bill and ways to take action.

About HB 272

First, the bill increases agritourism possibilities by allowing certain food establishments involved in agritourism, such as limited wineries, and farm breweries to use a portable toilet in order to meet bathroom requirements. Previously, agritourism establishments needed to be retrofitted with brick-and-mortar bathrooms. If passed, this section of the bill would go into effect in July 2026.

Further, the bill establishes a new annual licensing framework for on-farm food service facilities and caps the license fees at $100. Previously, on-farm food facilities were considered temporary food service facilities that could operate for at most 30-day periods and renew the license at maximum twice a year.

Under the new legislation, on-farm food facilities can obtain a license that would be valid for a full year. If the legislation passes, this section of the bill would go into effect at the end of January 2027.

TAKE ACTION

Action Step #1

Testify in support of this legislation! You will need to sign up TODAY, Monday February 2, 2026 before 6:00 pm ET.

Please review the hearing FAQs. Helpful video tutorials for participating in Maryland General Assembly hearings can be found here.

Create a MyMGA Account here. Use the name you'll use for your testimony.
On your MyMGA dashboard, choose "Witness Signup" from the menu and find the House Health Committee hearing on February 4, 2026.
Choose your position ("favorable") and whether your testimony is written, oral, or both.
Written testimony must be in PDF form.
To testify virtually, choose "oral" or "both" as your testimony type. You should receive emails from the MD General Assembly with next steps.

Action Step #2

Submit written comments in support of this legislation! If you are unable to attend the hearing in person or via Zoom, please submit your written comments in support of this bill to your legislators and to the Health Committee via the MyMGA portal.

All written testimony must be uploaded to a PDF and have a:

Visible bill number located at the top of the first page of your testimony

Clear indication of support (FAV), opposed (UNF), or support with amendments (FWA)

Name and address of the person and/or entity testifying and submitting the testimony

Please review the hearing FAQs. Helpful video tutorials for participating in Maryland General Assembly hearings can be found here.

Create a MyMGA Account here. Use the name you'll use for your testimony.
On your MyMGA dashboard, choose "Witness Signup" from the menu and find the House Health Committee hearing on February 4, 2026.
Choose your position ("favorable") and whether your testimony is written, oral, or both.

Action Step #3

Contact your legislator and members of the Health Committee and tell them you support HB 272!

Find your representative here.
See members of the Health Committee here.

Action Step #4

Spread the word! Send this Action Alert email to your friends, families, and customer list.

TALKING POINTS

Passage of HB 272 would enable family farmers to make a better living by increasing the allowable sales of food on the farm, as well as allowing for an opportunity for farmers to offer agritourism activities with lower barriers to entry.

HB 272 would enable small, independent, farms to make a better living by increasing the experiences and products they can sell that consumers want.

HB 272 would keep more of the food dollar in local communities and boost the local economy with the increase in locally-produced foods and experiences that consumers can obtain.

Taking action serves to increase #foodfreedom!

Please join us and spread the word about the importance of fair food and farming legislation.

In good health,

Alexia Kulwiec
Executive Director, FTCLDF

GIVE TODAY

Want to help? One minute is all it takes to process your $10, $20, $50, or $100 gift to
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund.

Questions? Visit us on the web at www.farmtoconsumer.org
or call our offices at (703) 208-FARM (3276).

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