Bill > H4387

This bill aims to strengthen the Commonwealth's farms and food systems in several ways: It requires the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to develop plans for supporting agricultural, seafood, and food production in the event of supply chain disruptions. It expands the membership of the Agricultural Lands Preservation Committee to include the Commissioner of Fish and Game. It creates a new full-time Food System Coordinator position to inventory state food programs, facilitate collaboration, and provide recommendations. It establishes a "circuit rider" program to provide on-site guidance to businesses regulated by the Department of Agricultural Resources. The bill also makes several changes to agricultural preservation restrictions, including requiring that the fair market value consider any existing infrastructure or easements. It establishes a new "Next Generation Farmers Fund" to provide workforce development grants for first-time and under-represented farmers. It expands right-to-farm protections to certain agritourism activities and clarifies the definition of land in horticultural use. The bill creates a new tax credit for businesses that donate food crops or prepared meals to nonprofit food distribution organizations. It also provides liability protection for those who donate food and food establishments that distribute donated food. Finally, the bill requires the establishment of a community garden program on state conservation lands and a program to allow farmers markets on state park lands.