OCEAN CITY – The 2022 Maryland General Assembly session closed with sine die last Monday with several weighty statewide issues resolved and a handful of bills germane to the local area making it through.
The session closed with a flourish last Monday as state lawmakers closed the books on another session. After two years of COVID restrictions and Zoom hearings, the 2022 General Assembly session represented somewhat of a return to normal this year. During the session, legislators debated and voted on thousands of pieces of legislation, including some of local importance, which breezed through with unanimous votes.
For example, a bill that would allow family farmers in Worcester County to diversify and take advantage of the growing agritourism market breezed through the state Senate and House and was signed by Gov. Larry Hogan last week.
Senate Bill 32, pre-filed by State Senator Mary Beth Carozza (R-38) and cross-filed in the House by Delegate Wayne Hartman (R-38C), will add Worcester County to the list of 18 other jurisdictions around the state in which farm structures used for the growing agritourism industry would be exempt from certain building code requirements.
As the name implies, agritourism includes any activity that links traditional agriculture production to tourism and draws visitors onto a farm, such as corn mazes, pumpkin patches, barn weddings or winery tastings, for example. The legislation was strongly supported by the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, Worcester County Tourism, the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association and the Maryland Tourism Commission among other advocacy groups. The bill passed on a 45-0 vote in the Senate and a 135-0 vote in the House.
i think this is already in existence, we use to call it the fresh air fund, bring city kids to the country so they can see a real cow! ohhh how special! lookie at all dem chikins!