The bill titled "An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts" aims to strengthen local food systems and enhance agricultural resilience within the Commonwealth. Key provisions include the establishment of a plan by the Massachusetts emergency management agency to support agricultural and food production during emergencies, which will be reviewed every five years. The bill also requires the state purchasing agent to report annually on the distribution of local food through state-funded food assistance programs, detailing quantities, types, and sources of local food, along with recommendations for increasing local food distribution. Additionally, it creates the Next Generation Farmers Fund to support workforce development for first-time farmers and the Vacant Lots to Urban Agriculture Fund to convert vacant lots into agricultural enterprises, prioritizing projects in environmental justice populations.

Further amendments include the establishment of a central registry for agricultural and horticultural land, maintained by the Department of Revenue, and the creation of a University of Massachusetts Extension Board of Public Overseers to advise on agricultural extension programs. The bill also mandates the office of the inspector general to conduct public information campaigns regarding procurement of local agricultural products and clarifies zoning exemptions for agritourism. It requires the Department of Agricultural Resources to review renewable energy restrictions on farmland every ten years and mandates a comprehensive study by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to improve safety net programs for farmers and farm workers. Specific timelines for regulatory actions by various state departments are also outlined to ensure compliance and streamline processes related to agricultural and environmental resources.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 7-23B, 20-6C, 29-2WWW, 30B-20, 40A-3, 61A-2A