1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to agriculture; appropriating money for grants to Second Harvest Heartland;
1.3 requiring reports.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. APPROPRIATION.
1.6 (a) $1,950,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,950,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
1.7from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants to Second Harvest
1.8Heartland on behalf of Minnesota's six Feeding America food banks for the following
1.9purposes:
1.10 (1) at least $850,000 each year must be allocated to purchase milk for distribution to
1.11Minnesota's food shelves and other charitable organizations that are eligible to receive food
1.12from the food banks. Milk purchased under the grants must be acquired from Minnesota
1.13milk processors and based on low-cost bids. The milk must be allocated to each Feeding
1.14America food bank serving Minnesota according to the formula used in the distribution of
1.15United States Department of Agriculture commodities under The Emergency Food Assistance
1.16Program. Second Harvest Heartland may enter into contracts or agreements with food banks
1.17for shared funding or reimbursement of the direct purchase of milk. Each food bank that
1.18receives funding under this clause may use up to two percent for administrative expenses.
1.19Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, any unencumbered balance at the end
1.20of fiscal year 2026 does not cancel and is available in fiscal year 2027;
1.21 (2) to compensate agricultural producers and processors for costs incurred to harvest
1.22and package for transfer surplus fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural commodities that
1.23would otherwise go unharvested, be discarded, or be sold in a secondary market. Surplus
1Section 1.
25-00623 as introduced11/15/24 REVISOR BD/LN
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 257NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: ABELER, Fateh, Housley, Coleman and Hoffman)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading01/16/2025
Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development 2.1commodities must be distributed statewide to food shelves and other charitable organizations
2.2that are eligible to receive food from the food banks. Surplus food acquired under this clause
2.3must be from Minnesota producers and processors. Second Harvest Heartland may use up
2.4to 15 percent of each grant awarded under this clause for administrative and transportation
2.5expenses; and
2.6 (3) to purchase and distribute protein products, including but not limited to pork, poultry,
2.7beef, dry legumes, cheese, and eggs to Minnesota's food shelves and other charitable
2.8organizations that are eligible to receive food from the food banks. Second Harvest Heartland
2.9may use up to two percent of each grant awarded under this clause for administrative
2.10expenses. Protein products purchased under the grants must be acquired from Minnesota
2.11processors and producers.
2.12 (b) Second Harvest Heartland must submit quarterly reports to the commissioner and
2.13the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
2.14over agriculture finance in the form prescribed by the commissioner. The reports must
2.15include but are not limited to information on the expenditure of funds, the amount of milk
2.16or other commodities purchased, and the organizations to which this food was distributed.
2Section 1.
25-00623 as introduced11/15/24 REVISOR BD/LN