Update on Ag Legislation

We’re mid legislative-session and the August legislative recess is on deck, but hearings will resume in September. Testimony can be submitted at any time but should be sent before a hearing is concluded. So now is a good time for farmers and the organizations that advocate for them to submit testimony to state committees and to talk with legislators, especially if your legislator is on one of the committees assigned to a bill.

The Collaborative’s priority bills, tips on advocacy, and other legislative information is here. Testimony we’ve submitted can be found at the bottom of that page. Our testimony is offered as an example, but your story or statement on how legislation impacts you, no matter how brief or unpolished, is far more meaningful than sending along “canned” messages or exact copies of what we or other organizations have said.

Key ag issues and bills that we encourage you to review and submit testimony on soon are:

• Food Security Infrastructure Grant – Legislators are discussing and planning hearings on the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, talk with your legislators now to make sure FSIG is included, and send your thoughts to Aaron Michlewitz and Michael J. Rodrigues, chairs of the House and Senate Ways and Means committees as well. Our detailed analysis can be found here, and this is our testimony to the Governor.
• Farm sustainability – S1822/H861 An Act supporting the Commonwealth’s Farmers, are known as the ag omnibus bill and contain key initiatives to help farmers survive. This summary of the legislation explains each section. Our testimony is here. Send testimony for the senate bill to Chairs Adam G. Hinds and Mark J. Cusack and for the house bill to Chairs Rebecca L. Rausch and Carolyn C. Dykema. Joint Committee on Revenue for the senate bill and the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture for the house bill.
• Meat Processing – S1441 An Act relative to in-state meat inspection programs and H3926 An Act to support infrastructure needs for livestock farmers. These bills support greater processing capacity for MA-raised livestock. Our testimony is here. You should send your testimony to Joanne M. Comerford and Marjorie C. Decker, chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health.
• Agricultural Composting – H963/S499 An Act regarding agricultural composting programs give local Boards of Health and other agencies control over Agricultural Composting. Our testimony is here. Send your testimony to Chairs Rebecca L. Rausch and Carolyn C. Dykema of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.
• Small parcel farming – H2810 An Act relative to non-contiguous farm land and H3059 An Act relative to expanding agricultural land both expand Ch 61A property tax reductions to plots of land under 5 acres and owned by the same farmer. Our testimony is here. Send your testimony to Chairs Adam G. Hinds and Mark J. Cusack of the Joint Committee on Revenue.
• Agricultural Equity – S502 and H860: An Act promoting equity in agriculture. These bills will establish a commission charged with developing recommendations for MDAR to equitably serve socially disadvantaged farmers to address systemic disparities. Our testimony is being drafted at this time. Send your testimony to Chairs Rebecca L. Rausch and Carolyn C. Dykema of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

Stay tuned: We will send more updates as these and other bills progress and as we learn more from allied organizations.

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