The bill H.423, introduced by Representative Cina of Burlington, aims to enhance food security and resilience in Vermont by appropriating funds to the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Board. Specifically, it allocates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets for the fiscal year 2026. This funding is intended to support grants for projects identified in the Vermont Agriculture and Food System Strategic Plan, which was developed to stabilize and revitalize the state's agricultural industry and improve access to healthy local foods.

The bill outlines several findings that emphasize the importance of sustainable economic development within Vermont's food and farm sector, the need for improved soil and water resilience in the face of climate change, and the necessity of strengthening connections among producers, processors, and markets. It also highlights the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund's role in creating the strategic plan and its ongoing efforts to implement projects that promote healthy communities and ecosystems. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.