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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 498 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 87
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Blais
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act promoting equity in agriculture.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin1/13/2023Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/17/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/21/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/24/2023Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/25/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/25/2023Smitty Pignatelli3rd Berkshire1/26/2023Patricia A. Duffy5th Hampden1/26/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/26/2023Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol1/29/2023Michael P. Kushmerek3rd Worcester2/1/2023Paul A. Schmid, III8th Bristol2/1/2023Margaret R. Scarsdale1st Middlesex2/3/2023Jon Santiago9th Suffolk2/6/2023Mary S. Keefe15th Worcester2/6/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/7/2023Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/8/2023Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire2/8/2023 2 of 2
James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/10/2023Brian M. Ashe2nd Hampden2/10/2023Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/13/2023Daniel Cahill10th Essex2/17/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/19/2023Walter F. TimiltyNorfolk, Plymouth and Bristol2/21/2023Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/26/2023Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex2/27/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 498 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 87
By Representative Blais of Deerfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 87) of Natalie
M. Blais and others for legislation to establish a special commission (including members of the
General Court) to develop recommendations for supporting investments, policies and practices
designed to promote equity in agriculture for socially disadvantaged groups. Agriculture.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act promoting equity in agriculture.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 (a) There shall be a special legislative commission on agricultural equity to develop
2recommendations for supporting investments, policies and practices designed to promote equity
3in agriculture for socially disadvantaged groups in the commonwealth. For the purposes of this
4section, “socially disadvantaged groups” shall include people who have, or whose lineage has,
5been historically or systematically excluded from, or have had less access to resources and
6opportunities based on cultural, racial, or ethnic prejudice based on their identity as a member of
7a group rather than for their individual qualities. These groups include, but are not limited to,
8African Americans, Cape Verdeans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Caribbean
9Islanders, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives.
10 (b) The commission shall consist of: the commissioner of agricultural resources or a
11designee; the chairs of the committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture or their
12designees; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Black and Latino legislative caucus; 1 2 of 3
13member appointed by the Massachusetts Asian legislative caucus; 2 members appointed by the
14Massachusetts food system legislative caucus, to be selected through an open nomination process
15under criteria developed by the caucus; 2 members appointed by the commissioner of
16agricultural resources who shall represent Buy Local organizations funded by the department; 2
17members appointed by the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative; 1 member appointed by
18the commission on the status of African Americans; 2 members appointed by a Massachusetts-
19based farming association; 2 members appointed by non-profit organizations whose primary
20purpose is working with farmers from socially disadvantaged groups; 1 member appointed by the
21commission on the status of Latinos and Latinas; 1 member appointed by the commission on the
22status of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; 1 member appointed by the commission on
23Indian affairs; 1 member appointed by Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation; 1 member
24appointed by the Massachusetts Federation of Farmers Markets; and 1 member appointed by the
25Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment at the University of Massachusetts at
26Amherst. The appointing authorities shall appoint members knowledgeable in agriculture and
27who represent a diversity of knowledge of urban and rural agricultural practices and experiences.
28The commission shall be co-chaired by the commissioner of agricultural resources and a member
29of the commission chosen by the members.
30 (b) The commission shall investigate and study ways to increase equity in agriculture in
31the commonwealth, and shall prepare a report that shall include, but not be limited to,
32recommendations for: (i) data collection and dissemination; (ii) benchmark development and
33targeting areas of need; (iii) transparency for grantmaking to promote equitable access to grant
34programs and equitable distribution of funds; (iv) generating greater equity in the laws,
35regulations and other policies that regulate and support agriculture in the commonwealth, 3 of 3
36including, but not limited to, legislative, regulatory and sub-regulatory processes; (v) improving
37equity in the programs and services offered by the department of agricultural resources
38including, but not limited to, those programs regarding land access and protection, farmer
39technical assistance and education, marketing and others; (iv) the ongoing role of the
40commission or another representative body in supporting the implementation and monitoring of
41these equity goals; and (v) a plan for implementation, including a timeline.
42 (c) The department of agricultural resources shall furnish reasonable staff and other
43support for the work of the commission. Members of the commission may receive
44reimbursement for the reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities as
45members of the commission under procedures established by the department.
46 (d) The commission shall hold 3 or more public hearings in various regions of the
47commonwealth, including 1 in a rural area and 1 in an urban area with potential for increased
48urban agriculture. Not more than 18 months after the effective date of this act, the commission
49shall file a report on the results of its investigation and study together with its findings and
50recommendations, including any drafts of legislation necessary to carry out those
51recommendations, with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the senate and
52house committees on ways and means and the joint committee on environment, natural resources
53and agriculture. The report shall be posted on the website of the department of agricultural
54resources.