Baltimore County Question BCharter Amendment – Create a Department of Agriculture
What your vote means
A YES vote creates a county Department of Agriculture to support farming and local food production.
A NO vote creates no such department; farm issues stay spread across existing county agencies.
Our one-line summary of the official wording.
In plain words
Our summary of the official materials and local reporting.
- The department would promote farming as part of the county economy and encourage local food production and distribution to improve food access. source: elections.maryland.gov
- It would be led by an appointed director who reports to the County Administrative Officer. source: mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Land preservation would stay with Planning, local food programs with Health, and farm tourism with Economic and Workforce Development. source: elections.maryland.gov
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
- Bill 49-25 was introduced July 7, 2025 by Councilmembers Kach, Marks, Jones, Patoka and Ertel. source: mgaleg.maryland.gov
- The bill's preamble says agriculture is spread across many agencies with no single leader, which it says leads to duplicated services, slower reviews and underused state and federal funds. source: mgaleg.maryland.gov
Why supporters want it
- The bill's five sponsors (Kach, Marks, Jones, Patoka, Ertel) say in its preamble that agriculture plays a secondary role in county decisions and should be integral to them. source: mgaleg.maryland.gov
Why opponents object
No public statement found.
Who backs each side
No public record found of a campaign committee or campaign money for either side.
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
Word for word from the State Board of Elections' official Baltimore ballot: elections.maryland.gov .
Charter Amendment Department of Agriculture – Establishment
of Department (Bill 49-25) This Charter Amendment establishes a Department of Agriculture to promote and support farming and agriculture in Baltimore County as a viable component of the county's economic section, including encouraging local food production and distribution to improve access to food for County residents. This would amend Section 504 of the Baltimore County Charter and add Sections 542.9 and 542.10 to the Baltimore County Charter. Various agriculture issues will continue to be handled by other County agencies depending on the subject matter. As an example, agriculture land preservation is currently handled by the Department of Planning; local food initiatives are currently handled by the Department of Health; and agricultural tourism is handled by the Department of Economic and Workforce Development. A vote FOR the amendment would create a Department of Agriculture to support farming and agriculture in Baltimore County and encourage local food production and distribution to improve access to food for County residents. A vote AGAINST the amendment does not create a Department of Agriculture, and the current County Charter would remain unchanged.
- For the Charter Amendment
- Against the Charter Amendment
Latest news
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