Action Alert: Cottage Food in Maryland

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Subject: Action Alert: Cottage Food in Maryland

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Action Alert: Act Now for Cottage Foods

Dear Friend,

Maryland House Bill 05035 will be reviewed and testimony from the public accepted in a hearing before the Health Committee of the House:

February 17, 2026

1:00 p.m.

House Office Building, Room 240

Annapolis, MD

The bill seeks to increase the annual revenue limits on products that can be made in a home kitchen/cottage food operation to $100,000 from $50,000. This increase would expand small food producers’ rights, help them expand their businesses and profitability, and offer consumers access to more local foods of their choice.

See below for more info on how to take action!

TAKE ACTION

Action Step #1

Testify in support of this legislation! If you would like to attend the hearing, please review the hearing guidelines here.

Note that in-person testimony is strongly encouraged but there is an option to submit orally testimony virtually via Zoom if necessary, and the hearing will be livestreamed if you cannot attend in person.

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.

See page two of these guidelines under “Written Testimony” for instructions on how to submit comments 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

Action Step #3

Contact your legislators and members of the Health Committee and tell them you support HB 0535!

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 0535 would enable family farmers to make a better living by increasing the allowable sales of food produced on the farm.

HB 0535 would enable small, independent, farms to make a better living by increasing the products they can sell that consumers want.

HB 0535 would keep more of the food dollar in local communities and boost the local economy with the increase in locally-produced foods 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

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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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