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On April 15th, the Senate passed S.3050, the Mass Ready Act, also known as the environmental bond bill. The EBB is a once every 5 year bill (the last was passed in 2018). Bond bills authorize funding amounts for the state to fund capital grant programs. The EBB was first introduced by the Governor in July 2025, and it was heard by the Committees on Environment and Natural Resources and Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets before being referred to Senate Ways and Means in January 2026.

The bond bill as released from Senate Ways and Means mirrors the Administration’s proposal with some additions:

• $125M authorization for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant program
• $5M authorization for the Massachusetts Food Trust Program – NEW
• $26M authorization for CSAP, FVEP, urban agriculture, compost, food safety, Farmland Plan implementation, plus a commitment to carry forward $26.3M of unspent funds from the 2018 environmental bond bill
• $42M authorization for APR, plus a commitment to carry forward $18M of unspent funds from the 2018 environmental bond bill
• $5.5M authorization for a Healthy soils Program under EEA’s general land acquisition line item – NEW
• $20M authorization to promote and support the growth and economic competitiveness of the commonwealth’s agricultural, commercial fishing and
  cranberry-growing sectors – NEW
• An outside section (4) that will unlock the milk producers security fund, allowing MDAR to better serve more dairy farmers.
• An outside section (5 and 6) that adds UMass Extension and the Division of Marine Fisheries to the Massachusetts Food Policy Council.
• An outside section (21 and 22) that grants MDAR a right of first refusal, positioned behind a municipality’s, on agricultural land protected under Chapter 61A when it comes up for sale. This is a critical step toward slowing the rate of farmland loss.
• An outside section (45 and 46) that modernize animal commercial feed regulations.
• An outside section (69) that requires DEP to write a report on the organics waste ban by December 31, 2027 and include recommended legislative
  changes or resources necessary to increase the rate at which food and organic waste is composted. NEW
  
• An outside section (70) that establishes a port development commission, including the seafood industry. NEW
• An outside section (72) that establishes a commission to study revenue sources for wastewater treatment plants on the Southcoast in response to nitrogen pollution affecting water quality and shellfish producers. This is a priority of the new Aquaculture Policy Coalition. NEW

During debate, amendments relating to the food system that were adopted include:

• An amendment that creates a ban on rodenticides
• An amendment that creates a drought management task force, including the MDAR Commissioner.

Amendments that were not adopted that the Collaborative supported:

• An amendment sponsored by Senator Comerford to create a working capital loan program, to be administered by MDAR in partnership with a CDFI or similarly qualified institution.
• An amendment sponsored by Senator Comerford to ban the land application of sludge and create a PFAS Relief Fund for farmers, capitalized with $50 million.
• An amendment sponsored by Senator Gomez to authorize $5 million for the urban agriculture grant program.
• An amendment sponsored by Senator Lovely to capitalize MDAR’s new Buy-Protect-Sell authority with $10 million.

The bond must now be debated and passed by the House, any differences must be worked out by a conference committee, and it will then be sent to the Governor for her signature. Bond authorizations are then drawn down into capital budgets (or capital improvement plans), which are set by the Governor’s Administration on an annual or 2 year basis. Stay tuned for future action alerts!

The Collaborative leads a Campaign for Food Literacy which aims to ensure all Massachusetts K-12 students have access to food system education in school so they can learn about food systems, including topics such as agriculture, nutrition, food justice, and culinary skills. We are excited to share a Food Literacy White Paper & Action Guide to elevate the importance of all students across the Commonwealth learning about food systems in school.

What is Food Literacy?

Food literacy is having the knowledge and skills needed to navigate a complex food system – the web of actors and activities from food production to disposal – in ways that support individual and community health, the economy, and the environment. 

Food literacy standards should promote an understanding of food systems including but not limited to:

• nutrition and the impact of diet on personal health;
• culinary skills and menu planning;
• food production, including farming, fishing, and processing;
• the connections between the food system and the environment;
• hunger, its causes and efforts to alleviate it;
• racial and other inequities in access to food and jobs in the food system;
• cultural connections to food; 
• local food producers and their livelihoods; and,
• careers in the food system

Why is Food Literacy Important?

• Students who are food literate are better equipped to make healthier choices.
• Students who experience hands-on food education have improved educational outcomes.
• Students who are food literate are more civically engaged and prepared for civic life.
• Students who are food literate are prepared for careers in the food system and beyond.
• Students who are food literate make better choices for their communities and environments.

“When we teach students about how food is grown; different cultural aspects of food; how to cook food and then pair that with a high quality, scratch cooked school food program, we are able to provide students with the education and tools needed to develop life long healthy eating habits. Food is such a powerful educational tool that can tap into children’s creativity, food identity, interest in sustainability and so much more.”
-Campaign for Food Literacy Steering Committee Member

What examples of food education are there in Massachusetts?

There are many great examples of teachers, schools, and districts providing food systems education. Our Action Guide provides a range of vignettes on the many ways people are promoting food literacy around the state. 

How do we ensure all students are food literate upon graduation?

Currently, some students learn about food in school through classroom lessons, school gardens, cafeteria programming, field trips, and more. However, across Massachusetts, there is inequitable and limited access to food system education.

• Food literacy is not included in the Massachusetts state frameworks,
• Food education is often championed by one or a few passionate individuals making it difficult to sustain if the champion leaves, and
• Access to resources varies by school, even within a district

To provide equitable, consistent access to food system education and foster food literacy,

Massachusetts must make systemic changes that require and support meeting food literacy educational standards in every school district. Incorporating food literacy into educational standards is an essential step towards ensuring equitable access to food education for all students. Read more about the vision and our campaign’s approach in the White Paper.