MD HB9

Defines "healthy food priority areas" as predominantly lower-income areas with limited access to affordable, healthy food retail outlets, and defines "wasted food" as food not used for its intended purpose that is donated, converted to animal feed, composted, digested anaerobically, or disposed of

Expands the Council's sustainability goals to include increasing local food production and distribution across urban, suburban, and rural settings, boosting local food procurement through schools and institutions, creating market opportunities for Maryland food businesses, and expanding small-scale food manufacturing infrastructure

Replaces the term "food deserts" with "limited food options and food scarcity that exist in healthy food priority areas" in the Council's policy mandate

Removes outdated reporting deadlines from 2021 and 2022, while requiring annual reports to the General Assembly beginning November 1, 2023 to now include appropriate policy and legislative change recommendations

Takes effect October 1, 2025; approved by Governor Wes Moore on May 13, 2025