The Massachusetts Legislature’s formal session came to an end on July 31, 2026 for the 2025-26 legislative session. The Collaborative and out networks have come together to advocate for policies and investments that support a sustainable, equitable, resilient and connected local food system. Together, we won:
- A refundable, up to $5,000 tax credit for farmers and aquaculture producers who donate food to hunger relief nonprofits for the next three years.
- A reversal of the 2025 HIP cut and a commitment to open HIP up to new farmers and vendors in FY27, for the first time in four years, and the Chair of House and Senate Ways and Means speaking about HIP on the floor of their respective chambers while opening budget debate.
- At least $218 million authorized for agricultural grant programs in the (soon to be passed) environmental bond bill.
- Food truck statewide regulations in the (also soon to be passed) economic development bond bill, something the Collaborative first identified as a need more than eight years ago.
- Many more wins in the annual budget
Unfortunately, H.4854, the FARM bill was not passed by the House by July 31. We deeply appreciate the leadership of Senator Jo Comerford and her team, who has championed this bill for more than 6 years and whose work led to the bill being passed by the Senate in April, as well as former Rep. Natalie Blais, who championed it in the House. We also appreciate Acting Agriculture and Fisheries Committee Chair Rep Aaron Saunders and his staff for leading on this bill this past spring, Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan and her team for also leading on this bill in the House, and to Food System Caucus co-chairs Reps Hannah Kane, Mindy Domb, Andy Vargas, and Norman Orrall for supporting this bill. We are exploring ways for the bill to pass in informal session, which runs from August 2026 to early January 2027, and hope to have more to share soon. Many thanks to our farmer, advocate and nonprofit partners for pushing for this bill until the very end of formal session!
Additionally, the Collaborative worked with thirty partners over the past two budget cycles seeking to fund a state-run Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, similar to the federal LFPA Program that was terminated by the Trump Administration in early 2025. We unfortunately were not successful in securing funding, but the effort allowed LFPA implementor organizations like Berkshire Grown, World farmers, the Springfield Food Policy Council, Coastal Foodshed, and more to level up in their advocacy work and strengthened relationships with state legislators like Senator Eldridge.
Finally, the Collaborative, in partnership with Rep. Pat Duffy and Senator Adam Gomez, celebrates the introduction of the Vacant Lots to Urban Farms bill (H.121 / S.61) for the first time this session. This was a new priority for MAFSC and our Urban Agriculture Network, and the bill was added to the FARM omnibus package.
The Collaborative deeply appreciates the hard work of so many partners and advocates who raised the importance of our 8 priority bills to their elected representatives and legislative leadership.