# Maryland HB 1626: Agriculture - Access to Food (Maryland Food Security, Access, and Equity Act)

Maryland HB 1626, Agriculture - Access to Food (Maryland Food Security, Access, and Equity Act), is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Ric Metzgar (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-03-17 (Hearing 3/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Environment and Transportation)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1626-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 1626
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Agriculture - Access to Food (Maryland Food Security, Access, and Equity Act)
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-23
- Last action: 2026-03-17, Hearing 3/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Environment and Transportation)
- Sponsor: Ric Metzgar (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Agriculture, Agriculture, Department of, Agriculture -see also- Agritourism; Cannabis Prd; Farm; etc., Auditors and Audits, Child Care, Committees and Commissions, Community Development, Contracts -see also- Procurement, Data -see also- Census; Demographics, Early Childhood Education, Electronic Government, Evaluations and Reviews, Farmers and Farming -see also- Agriculture; Farmland, Food -see also- Meat, Poultry, & Seafood; Milk; etc., Food Insecurity, Grants, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Information Technology, Internet -see also- Internet Access, Loans -see also- Credit; Mortgages; Scholarships&SFA, Medical Treatments, Partnerships, Plans and Proposals, Private Schools -see also- Primary Schools; Secondary Sch, Procurement, Public Schools -see also- Primary Schools; Secondary Sch, Reports, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Rules and Regulations, Rural Areas, Standards and Best Practices, State Aid -see also- Public Benefits, State Bonds, Storage, Transportation -see also- Aircraft; Airports; Boats; etc, Urban Areas
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ric Metzgar (Republican), House

## Actions (3)

- 2026-03-17: Hearing 3/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Environment and Transportation) (House)
- 2026-03-16: Rereferred to Environment and Transportation and Appropriations (House)
- 2026-02-23: First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations (House)

## Bill text

- First Reading, 2026-02-23: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1626f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1626f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1626-2026RS (as of 2026-10-12).