Bill > S2171

This bill aims to promote agriculture in the Commonwealth by establishing an "Agricultural Resolve and Security Fund" to support various agricultural initiatives, including education, sustainable practices, land preservation, and disease control, funded by gifts, grants, federal reimbursements, and a portion of pesticide registration fees. It also creates a "Massachusetts Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture Program Fund" to support veterans in agricultural careers, funded by a percentage of the main agricultural fund. The bill introduces provisions for municipal agricultural commissions to promote local farming, requires local governments to notify the state Department of Agricultural Resources about regulations impacting commercial agriculture, and modifies tax laws to better support agricultural land. Additionally, it clarifies regulations around the sale and distribution of raw milk, including "shared animal ownership agreements" where individuals can purchase a share of an animal and receive raw milk for personal consumption, and allows licensed raw milk farmers to deliver directly to consumers off-site from the farm. The bill also establishes programs for community gardens on state lands and public market places for farmers on state park land, and mandates a review of plumbing and building codes to better accommodate farming operations.