Bill would create Prince George's County work group on farmers markets and street vending zones

Sen. Alonzo Washington presented House Bill 1223 to the Senate Finance Committee on April 10, describing a local delegation bill to establish a Prince George's County work group on farmers markets and street vending zones.

Washington said the work group would identify suitable locations and develop recommendations on regulations and safety, health and environmental or community concerns for farmers markets and street vendors. He told the committee the goal is to help street vendors find safe places to sell food and goods and to harness entrepreneurial opportunities in parts of the county where informal vending has been common.

"In parts of our county, we've had a history of street vendors just being on the sides of the road, selling anything and everything," Washington said, adding the group would help "find them a location and a place where they can be safe and sell their food and items that they wanna do because there's the entrepreneurial spirit within those folks." Washington asked the committee for a favorable report on the bill.

No public testimony from vendors or market operators was recorded in this hearing; the sponsor characterized the proposal as a delegational effort to develop a strategy through a formal work group and did not specify membership, funding sources, or implementation timelines during the presentation.