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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="2-1901" future_version_removed="true" title_number="2" title_name="Department of Agriculture" subtitle_number="19" subtitle_name="Maryland Healthy Soils Program">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Healthy soils” means the continuing capacity of soil to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Function as a biological system;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Increase soil organic matter;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Improve soil structure and water and nutrient holding capacity; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>Sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Healthy soils” may include regenerative practices and traditions.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Program” means the Maryland Healthy Soils Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Regenerative practices and traditions” means a form of land management and stewardship approaches and practices that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Draws on traditions and innovations from African, Indigenous, and original land stewards;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Promotes culturally important food and climate justice programs and initiatives; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Enhances the land and ecosystem through adaptive land management practices that improve soil health and water quality, restore biodiversity, mitigate climate change impacts, and provide the greatest community benefits.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Regenerative practices and traditions” includes practices such as producing food in the State for distribution within the State.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is a Maryland Healthy Soils Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the Program is to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Improve the health, yield, and profitability of the soils of the State;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Increase biological activity and carbon sequestration in the soils of the State by promoting practices based on emerging soil science, including planting mixed cover crops, adopting no–till or low–till farming practices, and rotation grazing; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Promote widespread use of healthy soils practices among farmers in the State.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>To carry out the purposes of the Program, the Department shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Provide incentives, including research, education, technical assistance, and, subject to available funding, financial assistance, to farmers to implement farm management practices that contribute to healthy soils; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Determine whether the Program may be implemented in a manner to enhance other State and federal programs that provide financial assistance to farmers.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $500,000 for the Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $400,000 for the Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
