Natural Resources - Edible Forests and Foraging Program - Establishment

HB 72 establishes Maryland's Edible Forests and Foraging Program within the Department of Natural Resources. It requires foragers to obtain permits for designated areas (except within established edible forests), mandates fee waivers for low-income applicants, and creates a special fund using permit fees and interest earnings to maintain edible forests on state-owned land, subject to available funding. The program regulates noncommercial personal foraging while directing funds toward cultivating edible plants for public access. This law directly affects residents foraging on state lands and sets clear fee and permit requirements.