2019 Food System Legislaive Priorities.Indd
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2019 Legislative Priorities Th e 2015 Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan recommended a range of policy changes toward a sustainablesustainable anandd equitaequitableble ffoodood system. Many bbillsills hhaveave bbeeneen fi ledled in thethe 191191st GeneralGeneral Court tthathat aaddressddress tthesehese recommenrecommendations.dations. Th e MA Food System Collaborative and the undersigned organizations have identifi ed these fi ve bills as priorities fforor passapassagege in thethe 2019-2020 legislativelegislative session.session. An Act rela ve to an agricultural healthy incen ves program S48: Sen. Anne Gobi / H145: Rep. Paul Mark The Healthy Incen ves Program doubles SNAP recipients’ purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables directly from farmers, improving health outcomes for vulnerable communi- es and increasing sales for local farms. This bill will establish the framework for the program’s long-term sustainability. An Act rela ve to Agricultural Commission input on board of health regula ons S1268: Sen. Adam Hinds / H1856: Rep. Natalie Blais Many municipal boards of health have no exper se around farming, but are tasked with making decisions that can impact the viability of local farms. This bill will require that municipal boards of health give local agricultural commissions an opportunity to weigh in on new or changing regula ons related to agriculture, so that farmers’ per- spec ves and needs can be taken into account. An Act encouraging the dona on of food to persons in need S962: Sen. Edward Kennedy / S869: Sen. Jo Comerford / H1475: Rep. Hannah Kane Would provide civil liability protec on for persons who donate food directly to consum- ers, as well as for food establishments that donate food whose labeled date has passed and a tax credit to Massachuse s farmers in the amount of the fair market value of the donated food, with a $2,000 annual cap per farmer. An Act regarding a farmland protec on and viability ac on plan S482: Sen. Anne Gobi Legisla on to develop a statewide Farmland Ac on Plan to compile data on land use trends, and use that data to guide state investments and policies related to farmland access, protec on, and use. An Act to promote urban agriculture and hor culture S1691: Sen. Edward Kennedy / H2551: Rep. Elizabeth Malia Would allow ci es with popula ons over 50,000 to adopt an op onal property tax break for land used for urban agriculture, to help overcome the high price of urban land and promote the health, economic, and environmental benefi ts of growing food in ci es. 324 Wells Street, Greenfi eld, MA 01301 | 413-634-5728 | www.mafoodsystem.org | [email protected] Several dozen other bills have been iled this session that directly address recommendations in the Plan. We urge the legislature to refer to the Plan when considering these bills, and to communicate with stake- holder organizations about the importance of these pieces of legislation to their communities. Among those under consideration, the following are of particular importance: An Act to Exempt from taxa on structures and buildings es- An Act regarding breakfast a er the bell sen al to the opera on of agricultural and hor cultural lands S267: Senator Sal DiDomenico / H591: Rep. Aaron Vega S1786: Senator Tarr Would require that all schools where 60% or more of the Would allow farmers to apply for property tax exemp ons students qualify for free and reduced meals serve breakfast for certain agricultural structures. a er the bell, in the classroom. An Act rela ve to the preserva on of agricultural lands / An An Act improving public health through a common applica on Act suppor ng farming on non-con guous land for core food, health and safety-net programs S1793: Senator Dean Tran / S1613: Senator Jo Comerford S678: Senator Sal DiDomenico / H1173: Representa ve Jay Would allow some non-con guous farmland under the Livingstone same ownership to benefi t from Chapter 61A tax valua on. Would create a common applica on for Mass Health and An Act to promote healthy soils and agricultural innova on SNAP benefi ts, as well as other DTA administered benefi ts. within the Commonwealth An Act to Promote Student Nutri on S438: Senator Jo Comerford / HB873: Rep. Paul Schmid S256: Senator Cynthia Creem / H585: Representa ve Andy Would establish a healthy soils program to encourage Vargas agricultural innova on and result in long-term greenhouse Would address “meal shaming,” where children are publicly gas benefi ts. denied their school meals because their lunch account is in An Act rela ve to the Massachuse s Food Policy Council arrears. H2784: Representa ve Paul Schmid An Act rela ve to expanding access to healthy food choices in Would add a seat to the MA Food Policy Council for the vending machines on state property Department of Fish and Game. S1290: Senator Jason Lewis / HD3951: Representa ve Natalie An Act establishing farm to school grants to promote healthy Blais ea ng and strengthen the agricultural economy Would limit food and beverages sold by vending machines S301: Senator Eric Lesser / H556: Rep. Smi y Pignatelli located in government buildings or on government proper- Would establish a grant program for infrastructure and ty to those that comply with nutri onal standards estab- training to enable schools to do more scratch cooking using lished by the commissioner of public health. local foods. Th e Following Organizations Support these Priorities American Farmland Trust, Northampton Groundwork Southcoast, New Bedford & Fall Project Bread, East Boston Arlington EATS, Arlington River Regional Environmental Council of Central Backyard Growers, Gloucester Health Care Without Harm, Cambridge MA (REC), Worcester Berkshire Farm & Table, Sheffi eld Healthy Chelsea Coalition, Chelsea Shape Up Somerville - City of Somerville, Berkshire Grown, Great Barrington Healthy Hampshire, Northampton Somerville Boston Area Gleaners, Waltham Heath Agricultural Society, Heath Southeastern MA Food Security Network, Th e Carrot Project, Boston Island Grown Initiative, Martha’s Vineyard Southcoast Central Mass Grown, Worcester Just Roots Inc., Greenfi eld Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Coastal Foodshed, New Bedford Mass Farmers Markets, Waltham Partnership, S. Dartmouth CommonWealth Kitchen, Dorchester Mass in Motion, Salem Springfi eld Dementia Friendly Coalition, Community Action Agency of Somerville, Inc., Mass Law Reform Institute, Boston Springfi eld Somerville Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, Springfi eld Food Policy Council, Springfi eld Community Health Network for North Central Plainville Springfi eld Partners for Community Action, Mass, Leominster Massachusetts Farm to School, Easthampton Springfi eld Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition, Sustainable CAPE - Center for Agricultural (CISA), South Deerfi eld Mattapan Preservation & Education, Truro, MA Conservation Law Foundation, Boston Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Lowell Sustainable Nantucket, Nantucket Th e Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Mill City Grows, Lowell Th e Marion Institute, Marion Hatfi eld Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, Athol Th e Trustees, Boston Food For Free, Cambridge New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI), Tuft s Friedman Food Policy Action Council Th e Food Project, Lincoln/Dorchester/Lynn Belchertown (FFPAC), Boston Franklin County CDC, Greeenfi eld New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Water Alliance, Gloucester Franklin County Food Council, Greenfi eld Beverly Worcester County Food Bank, Shrewsbury Fresh Truck, Boston Northeast Harvest Buy Local, Topsfi eld Worcester County Food Policy Council, Greater Boston Food Bank, Boston Northeast Organic Farming Association/ Worcester Groundwork Lawrence, Lawrence Massachusetts Chapter (NOFA/Mass), Barre 324 Wells Street, Greenfi eld, MA 01301 | 413-634-5728 | www.mafoodsystem.org | [email protected].