News

The House Committee on Ways and Means released its FY24 budget draft and the full House of Representatives debated and passed its proposed budget at the end of April. While the debate ultimately failed to yield any new support for food system priorities, the original draft included some significant investments thanks to years of work […]

More than 1,500 amendments have been filed to the Massachusetts House Committee on Ways and Means draft budget (H3900). Representatives now have a week to review and consider these amendments before debating and voting on a final budget the week of April 24. Representatives may choose to cosponsor as many amendments as they wish, to […]

The state budget process begins in earnest in April, with the release of the House Committee on Ways and Means draft proposal on April 12. This will lay out the Committee’s priorities for every dollar the state will spend in fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024). Large, statewide items like HIP […]

On March 1 Governor Healey released the first annual budget proposal of her new administration. With a throughline of support for climate change resilience and mitigation, the fiscal year 2024 budget for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs would increase significantly under this proposal. The proposed budget would support the Food Security Infrastructure […]

More than 200 people attended the 2022 MA Food System Forum on Oct 12 in Sturbridge. Attendees met and reconnected with each other over breakfast and lunch and attended lively workshops. Please see below for summaries of the workshops.  Sustaining agriculture: production management practices  Healthy soils are essential to climate mitigation and adaptation, watershed health, […]

The 2022 MA Food System Forum took place on Wednesday, October 12 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center, located at 366 Main St in Sturbridge, MA. Please reach out to Brittany Peats at [email protected] with any questions. Thank you to our 2022 MA Food System Forum Sponsors. Agenda 8:30am – Check in, Breakfast […]

The legislature’s formal session for 2021-22 wrapped up on July 31, and while there still may be some movement on bills during the informal session things will be relatively quiet on Beacon Hill until the new legislature is seated in January, as attention turns to campaigns. The biggest news of the past few months was […]

This week the MA House of Representatives is considering H5007, an economic development bond bill. Please call your representatives TODAY (7/12/22) and urge them to support three amendments that would provide needed support for the Commonwealth’s local food system. Find your representative’s contact information here. #97: DESE/USDA Local Food for Schools (Schmid). This amendment would […]

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and the Environment (EEA) has released the state’s Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030. The Plan is focused on greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction, including includes CO² sequestration, while the 2022 Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment focuses on identifying the most urgent issues and update to the […]

The second round of Food Security Infrastructure Grants were announced in April, distributing $22.5 million to 147 projects ranging from farms and fisheries, to food pantries and schools. In the two rounds of funding, the state has committed $62 million to essential food supply chain projects through this program, helping sustain farms and emergency food […]