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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2703 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 111
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Blais
_________________
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 Franklin1/16/2025Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/25/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/25/2025Steven Ultrino33rd Middlesex1/25/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester2/6/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/6/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/6/2025Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex2/6/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/6/2025Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex2/6/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/13/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/24/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2703 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 111
By Representative Blais of Deerfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 111) 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.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 87 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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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 to study and develop
2recommendations for supporting investments, policies and practices designed to promote equity
3in agriculture for socially disadvantaged groups in the commonwealth that have been historically
4or systematically excluded or have had less access to resources and opportunities based on
5cultural, racial or ethnic prejudice. These groups shall include, but shall not be limited to,
6African Americans, Cape Verdeans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Caribbean
7Islanders, Native Americans and Alaskan natives.
8 (b) The commission shall consist of the following members: the commissioner of
9agricultural resources, or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on agriculture; 1 member 2 of 3
10appointed by the Massachusetts Black and Latino legislative caucus; 1 member appointed by the
11Massachusetts House Asian caucus; 2 members appointed by the Massachusetts food system
12caucus, who shall be selected through an open nomination process pursuant to criteria developed
13by the caucus; 2 members appointed by the commissioner of agricultural resources who shall
14represent Buy Local organizations funded by the department of agricultural resources; 2
15members appointed by the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative; 1 member appointed by
16the commission on the status of African Americans; 2 members appointed by a Massachusetts-
17based farming association; 2 members appointed by non-profit organizations whose primary
18purpose is working with farmers from socially disadvantaged groups; 1 member appointed by the
19commission on the status of Latinos and Latinas; 1 member appointed by the commission on the
20status of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; 1 member appointed by the commission on
21Indian affairs; 1 member appointed by Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation; 1 member
22appointed by the Massachusetts Federation of Farmers Markets; and 1 member appointed by the
23Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
24Members appointed to the commission shall, to the extent possible, represent a diversity of
25knowledge of urban and rural agricultural practices and experiences and be knowledgeable in
26agriculture. The commission shall be co-chaired by the commissioner of agricultural resources
27and a member of the commission chosen by the members.
28 (c) The commission shall investigate and study ways to promote equity in agriculture in
29the commonwealth, and shall prepare a report including, but not be limited to, recommendations
30related to: (i) data collection and dissemination; (ii) benchmark development and targeting areas
31of need; (iii) equitable access to grant programs and distribution of funds; (iv) generating greater
32equity in the legislative, regulatory and sub-regulatory processes to support agriculture in the 3 of 3
33commonwealth; (v) improving equity in programs and services offered by the department of
34agricultural resources, including, but not limited to, programs regarding land access and
35protection, farmer technical assistance and education, marketing and other existing programs
36identified by the commission; and (vi) the implementation and monitoring of equity goals in
37agriculture in the commonwealth established by the commission. The department of agricultural
38resources shall furnish reasonable staff and other support for the work of the commission.
39 (d) The commission shall hold not less than 3 public hearings in various regions of the
40commonwealth; provided, that not less than 1 public hearing shall be held in a rural area and not
41less than 1 public hearing shall be held in an urban area with potential for increased urban
42agriculture.
43 (e) Not later than December 31, 2027, the commission shall file a report and any
44recommendations, including any legislation necessary to carry out the recommendations, with
45the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on
46ways and means and the joint committee on agriculture. The report shall be publicly available on
47the website of the department of agricultural resources.