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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1605S.P. 642 In Senate, April 15, 2025
An Act to Support Farmers and Food Banks Affected by Federal
Funding Cuts to Their Existing Contracts
(AFTER DEADLINE)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule
205.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on April 11, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BRENNER of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative GUERRETTE of Caribou and
Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, BLACK of Franklin, HICKMAN of Kennebec, TALBOT
ROSS of Cumberland, TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin, Representatives: DILL of Old Town,
JACKSON of Oxford, PLUECKER of Warren. Page 1 - 132LR2481(01)
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2 is enacted to read:
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4 The Food System Protection Program, referred to in this section as "the program," is
5 established and administered by the department to provide zero-interest loans and other
6 resources to qualifying producers within the State, and qualifying nonprofit organizations
7 within the State, established for the purpose of reducing hunger and increasing food
8 security that have been affected by federal funding cuts and other changes to the status of
9 contracts and certain federal programs. The department shall establish an application
10 process for individuals and entities to apply for loans under the program and criteria for
11 eligibility and adopt rules, as necessary, for the administration of the program. Rules
12 adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter
13 375, subchapter 2-A.
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15 This bill establishes the Food System Protection Program, administered by the
16 Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, for the purpose of providing zero-
17 interest loans and other resources to qualifying producers within the State, and nonprofit
18 organizations within the State, established for the purpose of reducing hunger and
19 increasing food security that have been affected by federal funding cuts and other changes
20 to the status of contracts and certain federal programs.
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