The Collaborative leads the Campaign for HIP Funding to ensure that the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which provides fresh, healthy, local foods for SNAP recipients, receives increased funding to meet demand, operates year-round, and adds new farmers to fill gaps in program coverage.
read more…The Massachusetts legislature is considering many bills in the 2023-24 session that relate to the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan. This list includes bills that most closely align with goals and recommendations from the Local Food Action Plan.
read more…2024 Candidate Questionnaires: The Collaborative sent a questionnaire to all candidates for state representative and senator in contested races that had filed paperwork with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Below are the responses we have received. This page will continue to be updated as more responses come in. The Collaborative encourages voters […]
read more…The fiscal year 2024 budget has been signed by Governor Maura Healey into law! This year’s budget includes several important wins for a sustainable, equitable, resilient food system. The Food Security Infrastructure Grant program is funded for the first time in the annual budget at $25 million, signaling a strong commitment from the Governor and […]
read more…The Massachusetts Senate completed its budget debate in May, making some significant investments in food system needs. These include $1,000,000 for food literacy, $250,000 to continue the grant program for local food policy councils, and $1,020,000 for healthy soils. The Senate budget also increases administrative budgets for the departments of Agricultural Resources and Public Health, […]
read more…More than 1,000 amendments have been filed to the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways and Means draft budget. Senators now have a week to review and consider these amendments before debating and voting on a final budget the week of May 22. Senators may choose to cosponsor as many amendments as they wish, to show […]
read more…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 […]
read more…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 […]
read more…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 […]
read more…The following 16 food literacy experts have helped to guide the campaign for food literacy by providing input on policy priorities, participating in events, and contributing to outreach efforts.
read more…