Substitute Senate Bill No. 148 introduces a series of initiatives aimed at bolstering Connecticut's agricultural sector, with a particular emphasis on dairy farming. The bill establishes a new Dairy Modernization Grant Program within the Department of Agriculture to support dairy farmers in upgrading their equipment and infrastructure, with guidelines to be set by January 1, 2027. It also revises the definition of "eligible farmer" to include those with a federal gross income from farming of at least $250,000, replacing the previous requirement of two-thirds of excess federal gross income. Additionally, the bill creates a Dairy Farming Sustainability Working Group tasked with providing long-term support recommendations for the dairy industry, which will report its findings by the same deadline. Other provisions include reinstating land use values for forest land, conducting a study on natural gas rates for agricultural customers, and updating regulations related to the Farmland Preservation Advisory Board.

The bill further modernizes the Connecticut Farmers' Market Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (CFM/WIC) by replacing the term "vouchers" with "benefits" and establishing a framework for the distribution of these benefits at authorized locations. It emphasizes the importance of Connecticut-grown products and introduces a "farmer certification handbook" to guide compliance with CFM/WIC rules. The bill also outlines new criteria for farmer certification, including training and crop plan submission, while eliminating previous requirements such as vendor identification stamps. Additionally, it addresses violations related to the CFM/WIC program, categorizing them and establishing penalties for noncompliance. Overall, the bill aims to enhance public health measures, streamline certification processes, and improve the integrity of agricultural marketing and grading practices in Connecticut.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 26-206
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute: 26-206
File No. 73: 26-206
APP Joint Favorable: 26-206
Public Act No. 26-75: 22-26gg, 22-6g, 22-6h, 22-6i, 22-6j, 22-6k, 22-6l, 22-6m, 22-6n, 22-6o, 22-6p, 22-6q, 22-26k, 22-34