This bill aims to enhance urban agriculture initiatives within environmental justice communities by amending existing legal definitions and criteria. Specifically, it modifies subsection (d) of section 29A of chapter 23G of the General Laws by deleting the previous clause (12) and inserting a new clause that prioritizes projects located within one mile of an environmental justice population or within an environmental justice municipality. This change is intended to ensure that urban agriculture projects are more accessible to communities that face environmental challenges.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new definition for "environmental justice municipality" in section 62 of chapter 30 of the General Laws. This definition outlines specific criteria that a municipality must meet to be classified as such, including income levels, minority population percentages, and language proficiency among residents. The bill also provides conditions under which a municipality may be excluded from this designation, focusing on income levels, educational attainment, environmental pollution burdens, and access to natural resources. These amendments are designed to promote equitable access to urban agriculture resources and support communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental issues.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 23G-29A, 30-62