Bill > S61

This bill establishes the Vacant Lots to Urban Agriculture Fund, a new state-managed fund designed to transform unused urban spaces into productive agricultural sites, particularly in environmental justice communities. The fund defines "vacant lot" broadly to include abandoned, empty, foreclosed, or underutilized properties that have not been actively used within the past year. The fund will be administered by the Department of Agricultural Resources and can receive money from state appropriations, donations, and grants, with the money remaining in the fund at the end of each fiscal year. The primary goal is to support urban agricultural projects that enhance economic development, food security, and climate resilience in cities. The fund will provide grants for various purposes, including developing urban farming plans, establishing pilot agricultural programs in environmental justice communities, transitioning tax-foreclosed land to agricultural use, purchasing private land parcels, and helping municipalities and organizations start farms, community gardens, and other agricultural enterprises. The bill requires the commissioner to create implementation regulations and submit an annual report detailing grant applicants, recipients, requested and awarded funding amounts, and the number of environmental justice block groups served by the fund.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S61