Bill > H121

This bill establishes a new Vacant Lots to Urban Agriculture Fund within Massachusetts to support converting unused urban land into productive agricultural spaces, particularly in environmental justice communities. The fund will be administered by the Department of Agricultural Resources and can receive money from appropriations, donations, and grants. A "vacant lot" is defined as a property not actively used in the past year, including abandoned, empty, foreclosed, or underutilized spaces. The fund's primary purpose is to support urban agricultural projects that promote economic development, food security, and climate resilience in cities. Grant priorities include agricultural education, job training, food donation programs, and community engagement. Specific grant uses include developing urban farming plans, establishing pilot programs in environmental justice communities, transitioning city-owned tax lien properties to agricultural use, purchasing priority parcels, supporting agricultural enterprise startup costs, and protecting land through conservation easements. The bill requires the commissioner to create implementation regulations and file an annual report detailing grant applicants, recipients, requested and awarded funds, and the number of environmental justice block groups served by the program.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H121