BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.60
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S.60
IntroducedbySenatorsHardy,Heffernan,MajorandPlunkett
ReferredtoCommitteeonAgriculture
Date:February11,2025
Subject:Agriculture;disasterrelief;funding
Statementofpurposeofbillasintroduced:Thisbillproposestoestablishthe
FarmSecuritySpecialFundtoprovidefinancialassistancetofarmsthat
experiencedqualifyinglossesduetoweatherconditions.
AnactrelatingtoestablishingtheFarmSecuritySpecialFundtoprovide
grantsforfarmlossesduetoweatherconditions
ItisherebyenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheStateofVermont:
Sec.1.FINDINGS
TheGeneralAssemblyfindsthat:
(1)In2023and2024,Vermontexperiencedextremefloodingandother
climate-fueleddisastersthatdevastatedfarmsandotherworkinglands
businessesacrosstheState.
(2)ManyexistingStateandfederalprogramsthataredesignedto
supportfarmsaredifficulttoaccess,areadministrativelyburdensome,arenot
equitablydistributedtosmall-andmedium-scalefarmers,andcurrentlydonot
meettheneedsofVermontfarmersinaholisticway.
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(3)Inparticular,becausefederalcropinsuranceprogramsarenot
designedtoservetheneedsofsmallerscaleormorediversifiedfarming
operations,manyVermontfarmersarenotcoveredbycropinsurance.
(4)TheStateshouldestablishapermanentfundingsupportprogramto:
(A)maintaintheviabilityoffarmsinVermontinordertoensure
foodsecurity,climateresilience,ruraleconomicvitality,andenvironmental
health;
(B)continuouslyinvestinfarmsinawaythatmakesthemmore
resilienttocurrentandfuturechallenges;and
(C)provideasourceofrelieffundspermanentlyavailabletofarmers
impactedbyclimateemergenciesandextremeweather.
Sec.2.6V.S.A.chapter207isamendedtoread:
CHAPTER207.PROMOTIONAND,MARKETING,ANDSUPPORTOF
VERMONTFARMS,FOODS,ANDPRODUCTS
***
Subchapter4.FarmSecuritySpecialFund
§ 4631.DEFINITIONS
Asusedinthissubchapter:
(1)“Eligibleweathercondition”meansanyofthefollowingweather
conditionsthatarefoundtobecloselycorrelatedwithagriculturalincome
losses:
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(A)highwinds;
(B)excessivemoisture,intenseprecipitation,orflooding;
(C)extremeheat;
(D)abnormalfreezeconditions;
(E)widespreadfireevent;
(F)hail;
(G)drought;or
(H)anyothersevereweatherorgrowingconditionsimpacting
agriculturalincome,asdeterminedbytheReviewBoard.
(2)“Farm”meansaparcelorparcelsoflandowned,leased,ormanaged
byapersonanddevotedprimarilytofarmingandthatissubjecttoregulation
undertheRequiredAgriculturalPractices.
(3)“FarmSecuritySpecialFundReviewBoard”or“ReviewBoard”
meanstheBoardestablishedundersection4634ofthistitle.
(4)“Farming”hasthesamemeaningasinsection2.16oftheRequired
AgriculturalPractices.
§ 4632.FARMSECURITYSPECIALFUND
(a)ThereisestablishedtheFarmSecuritySpecialFundtobeadministered
bytheSecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarketsandthatshallbemanaged
inaccordancewith32V.S.A.chapter7,subchapter5.TheFundshallconsist
of:
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(1)fundsappropriatedbytheGeneralAssembly;
(2)fundsfrompublicandprivatesourcesthattheSecretaryacceptsfor
theFund;and
(3)fundsfromfederalgovernmentaidforStatesupportoffarmers
sufferingincomelossduetoweatherconditions.
(b)TheSecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarketsshallensurelanguage
accessibilityoftheFundthroughprocurementandprovisionofinterpretation
andtranslationservices.
(c)AllbalancesintheFundattheendofanyfiscalyearshallbecarried
forwardandremainpartoftheFund.
§ 4633.FARMSECURITYSPECIALFUND;GRANTS
(a)TheSecretary,afterconsultationwiththeReviewBoard,shallaward
grantsfromtheFarmSecuritySpecialFundtofarmsthathaveincurred
financiallossesorexpensesduetoaneligibleweathercondition.
(1)Grantsfromthefundshallbeinanamountthatreimbursesafarm
forupto50percentofuninsuredorotherwiseuncoveredlossesduetoeligible
weatherconditions,uptoamaximumawardof$150,000.00totalperyearper
qualifiedapplicantfarm.
(2)TheSecretaryshallestablishcriteriafortheamountofanaward
basedontheannualnetincomeofthefarminrelationtothemediannet
incomeofallfarmsinVermont.
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(3)TheSecretarymayverifytheoccurrenceofaneligibleweather
conditionclaimedunderthissectionthroughasitevisitorthroughuseof
availabledatafromtheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,
fromotherfederalorStatecertifiedweatherdatasources,orfromotherpublic
orprivateweatherorsatellitedateormodels.
(4)Lossesreimbursablebyagrantunderthissectioninclude:
(A)wagesorcompensation;
(B)replacementoflostincomefromdestroyedcropsorimpacted
livestock;
(C)debtpaymentsorotherongoingexpenses;
(D)costsofreplanting;
(E)livestockfeedreplacementcosts;
(F)infrastructureorequipmentrepairandreplacement;
(G)repairoffarmroadsandroadsnecessarytoaccessfarms;or
(H)otherlossesasdeterminedbytheSecretaryafterconsultation
withtheReviewBoard.
(b)TheSecretaryshalldevelopastreamlinedapplicationforawardsunder
thissectionthatshallinclude:
(1)abriefdescriptionofthedamagethatoccurred;
(2)attestationofaneligibleweatherconditionorevent;
(3)anestimateoflosses;and
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(4)ayear-endreportoffarmincomeandexpensesfromScheduleFof
U.S.InternalRevenueForm1040.
(c)Anapplicationforanawardunderthissectionmaybemadeatany
time,andtheFundmayonlyclosetheapplicationprocessuponawardofall
appropriatedfundsfortherelevantfiscalyear.
(d)Applicationsforanawardunderthissectionshallbeprocessedinthe
orderreceived,butanapplicationshallnotbereadyforevaluationuntilthe
Secretarydeterminesthattheapplicationisadministrativelycompleteand
includesalldocumentationrequiredbytheSecretary.
(e)Alladministrativelycompleteapplicationsshallbeevaluatedbythe
ReviewBoard.Within10daysofreceiptofanadministrativelycomplete
application,theReviewBoardbymajorityvoteshallrecommendtothe
Secretarywhethertoissueagranttotheapplicant.IftheReviewBoard
recommendsanawardunderthissection,theSecretaryshallissuetheaward
withintwoweeksofthedateoftheReviewBoard’srecommendation.
§ 4634.FARMSECURITYSPECIALFUNDREVIEWBOARD
(a)Creation.ThereiscreatedtheFarmSecuritySpecialFundReview
Board,whichforadministrativepurposesshallbeattachedtotheAgencyof
Agriculture,FoodandMarkets.
(b)OrganizationofBoard.TheBoardshallbecomposedof:
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(1)theSecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarketsordesignee,who
shallserveaschair;
(2)theStateChiefRecoveryOfficerordesignee;
(3)representativesofthreeorganizationsorentitieswithexperience
grantingrelieffundsortechnicalassistancetofarmers,appointedbythe
SecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarkets;and
(4)twofarmerswhohavereceivedrelieffunding,appointedbythe
SecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarkets.
(c)Memberterms.Themembersdesignatedinsubdivisions(b)(3)ofthis
sectionshallbeappointedtoinitialtermsoftwoyears.Thereafter,each
appointedmembershallserveatermofthreeyearsoruntilthemember’s
earlierresignationorremoval.Themembersdesignatedinsubdivision(b)(4)
ofthissectionshallbeappointedtoinitialtermsofoneyear.Thereafter,each
appointedmembershallserveatermofthreeyearsoruntilthemember’s
earlierresignationorremoval.Avacancyshallbefilledbytheappointing
authorityfortheremainderoftheunexpiredterm.Anappointedmembershall
notservemorethanthreeconsecutivethree-yearterms.
(d)Powers.
(1)TheReviewBoardshallreviewapplicationsforassistanceunderthis
section,assesstheaccuracyandvalidityoftheapplications,andrecommendto
theSecretaryapplicantswhoshouldreceiveassistanceunderthissection.
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(2)InordertoensurethattheFundismeetingtheneedsofVermont’s
agriculturalcommunity,theReviewBoardannuallyshallreviewthe
applicationprocess,eligibilitycriteria,distribution,andaccessibilityofthe
Fund.TheReviewBoardannuallyshallrecommendtotheHouseCommittee
onAgriculture,FoodResiliencyandForestryandtheSenateCommitteeon
AgriculturewaystoimprovetheeffectivenessoftheFund.
(e)Officers;committees.TheBoardmayelectofficers,establishoneor
morecommitteesorsubcommittees,andadoptsuchproceduralrulesasitshall
determinenecessaryandappropriatetoperformitswork.
(f)Quorum;meetings;voting.Amajorityofthesittingmembersshall
constituteaquorum,andactiontakenbytheBoardmaybeauthorizedbya
majorityofthememberspresentandvotingatanyregularorspecialmeeting
atwhichaquorumispresent.TheBoardmaymeetasanadvisorybodyunder
1V.S.A.chapter1,subchapter2.
(g)Compensation.Privatesectormembersshallbeentitledtoperdiem
compensationauthorizedunder32V.S.A.§1010(b)foreachdayspentinthe
performanceoftheirduties,andeachmembershallbereimbursedfromthe
Fundforthemember’sactualandnecessaryexpensesincurredincarryingout
themember’sduties.
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Sec.3.FUNDINGINTENT;REPORTONFUTUREAPPROPRIATIONS
(a)ItistheintentoftheGeneralAssemblythattheFarmSecuritySpecial
Fundreceiveanannualappropriationequalto50percentoftheaverage
documentedfarmlossesfromeligibleweatherconditions,asdefinedin6
V.S.A.chapter207,subchapter4,averagedoverpreviousyears.
(b)TodeterminetheappropriatefundsfordeposittotheFarmSecurity
SpecialFund,theSecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarketsshall
recommendtotheFarmSecuritySpecialFundReviewBoardonorbefore
December15,2025anamounttobeappropriatedtotheFarmSecuritySpecial
Fundbasedonthefarmlossesfromeligibleweatherconditionsaveragedover
thepreviousthreecalendaryears.OnorbeforeJanuary15,2026,theFarm
SecuritySpecialFundReviewBoardshallsubmittotheSenateCommitteeson
AgricultureandonAppropriationsandtheHouseCommitteesonAgriculture,
FoodResiliency,andForestryandonAppropriationsarecommended
appropriationtotheFarmSecuritySpecialFund.
Sec.4.EFFECTIVEDATE
ThisactshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.
Sec.1.FINDINGS
TheGeneralAssemblyfindsthat:
(1)In2023and2024,Vermontexperiencedextremefloodingandother
climate-fueleddisastersthatdevastatedfarmsandotherworkinglands
businessesacrosstheState.
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(2)ManyexistingStateandfederalprogramsthataredesignedto
supportfarmsaredifficulttoaccess,areadministrativelyburdensome,and
currentlydonotmeettheneedsofVermontfarmersinaholisticway.
(3)Inparticular,becausefederalcropinsuranceprogramsarenot
designedtoservetheneedsofsmallerscaleormorediversifiedfarming
operations,manyVermontfarmersarenotcoveredbycropinsurance.
(4)TheStateshouldestablishapermanentfundingsupportprogramto:
(A)maintaintheviabilityoffarmsinVermontinordertoensurefood
security,climateresilience,ruraleconomicvitality,andenvironmentalhealth;
(B)continuouslyinvestinfarmsinawaythatmakesthemmore
resilienttocurrentandfuturechallenges;and
(C)provideasourceofrelieffundspermanentlyavailabletofarmers
impactedbyclimateemergenciesandextremeweather.
Sec.2.6V.S.A.chapter207isamendedtoread:
CHAPTER207.PROMOTIONAND,MARKETING,ANDSUPPORTOF
VERMONTFARMS,FOODS,ANDPRODUCTS
***
Subchapter4.FarmSecuritySpecialFund
§ 4631.DEFINITIONS
Asusedinthissubchapter:
(1)“Eligibleweathercondition”meansanyofthefollowingweather
conditionsthatarefoundtobecloselycorrelatedwithagriculturalincome
losses:
(A)highwinds;
(B)excessivemoisture,intenseprecipitation,orflooding;
(C)extremeheat;
(D)abnormalfreezeconditions;
(E)widespreadfireevent;
(F)hail;
(G)drought;or
(H)anyothersevereweatherorgrowingconditionsimpacting
agriculturalincome,asdeterminedbytheReviewBoard. BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.60
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(2)“Farm”meansaparcelorparcelsoflandowned,leased,or
managedbyapersonanddevotedprimarilytofarmingandthatissubjectto
regulationundertheRequiredAgriculturalPractices.
(3)“FarmSecuritySpecialFundReviewBoard”or“ReviewBoard”
meanstheBoardestablishedundersection4634ofthistitle.
(4)“Farming”hasthesamemeaningasinsection2.16oftheRequired
AgriculturalPractices.
§ 4632.FARMSECURITYSPECIALFUND
(a)ThereisestablishedtheFarmSecuritySpecialFundtobeadministered
bytheSecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarketsandthatshallbemanaged
inaccordancewith32V.S.A.chapter7,subchapter5.TheFundshallconsist
of:
(1)fundsappropriatedtransferredbytheGeneralAssembly;
(2)fundsfrompublicandprivatesourcesthattheSecretaryacceptsfor
theFund;and
(3)fundsfromfederalgovernmentaidforStatesupportoffarmers
sufferingincomelossduetoweatherconditions.
(b)TheSecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarketsshallensurelanguage
accessibilityoftheFundthroughprocurementandprovisionofinterpretation
andtranslationservices.
(c)AllbalancesintheFundattheendofanyfiscalyearshallbecarried
forwardandremainpartoftheFund.
§ 4633.FARMSECURITYSPECIALFUND;GRANTS
(a)TheSecretary,afterconsultationwiththeReviewBoard,shallaward
grantsfromtheFarmSecuritySpecialFundtofarmsthathaveincurred
financiallossesorexpensesduetoaneligibleweathercondition.
(1)Grantsfromthefundshallbeinanamountthatreimbursesafarm
forupto50percentofuninsuredorotherwiseuncoveredlossesduetoeligible
weatherconditions,uptoamaximumawardof$150,000.00totalperyearper
qualifiedapplicantfarm.
(2)TheSecretaryshallestablishcriteriafortheamountofanaward
basedontheannualnetincomeofthefarminrelationtothemediannet
incomeofallfarmsinVermont.
(3)TheSecretarymayverifytheoccurrenceofaneligibleweather
conditionclaimedunderthissectionthroughasitevisitorthroughuseof
availabledatafromtheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration, BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.60
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fromotherfederalorStatecertifiedweatherdatasources,orfromotherpublic
orprivateweatherorsatellitedataormodels.
(4)Lossesreimbursablebyagrantunderthissectioninclude:
(A)wagesorcompensation;
(B)replacementoflostincomefromdestroyedcropsorimpacted
livestock;
(C)debtpaymentsorotherongoingexpenses;
(D)costsofreplanting;
(E)livestockfeedreplacementcosts;
(F)infrastructureorequipmentrepairandreplacement;
(G)repairoffarmroadsandroadsnecessarytoaccessfarms;or
(H)otherlossesasdeterminedbytheSecretaryafterconsultation
withtheReviewBoard.
(b)TheSecretaryshalldevelopastreamlinedapplicationforawardsunder
thissectionthatshallinclude:
(1)abriefdescriptionofthedamagethatoccurred;
(2)attestationofaneligibleweatherconditionorevent;
(3)anestimateoflosses;and
(4)ayear-endreportoffarmincomeandexpensesfromScheduleFof
U.S.InternalRevenueForm1040.
(c)Anapplicationforanawardunderthissectionmaybemadeatany
time,andtheFundmayonlyclosetheapplicationprocessuponawardofall
appropriatedfundsfortherelevantfiscalyear.
(d)Applicationsforanawardunderthissectionshallbeprocessedinthe
orderreceived,butanapplicationshallnotbereadyforevaluationuntilthe
Secretarydeterminesthattheapplicationisadministrativelycompleteand
includesalldocumentationrequiredbytheSecretary.
(e)Alladministrativelycompleteapplicationsshallbeevaluatedbythe
ReviewBoard.Within15daysfollowingreceiptofanadministratively
completeapplication,theReviewBoardbymajorityvoteshallrecommendto
theSecretarywhethertoissueagranttotheapplicant.IftheReviewBoard
recommendsanawardunderthissection,theSecretaryshallissuetheaward
within15daysfollowingthedateoftheReviewBoard’srecommendation.
§ 4634.FARMSECURITYSPECIALFUNDREVIEWBOARD BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.60
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(a)Creation.ThereiscreatedtheFarmSecuritySpecialFundReview
Board,whichforadministrativepurposesshallbeattachedtotheAgencyof
Agriculture,FoodandMarkets.
(b)OrganizationofBoard.TheBoardshallbecomposedof:
(1)theSecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarketsordesignee,who
shallserveaschair;
(2)theStateChiefRecoveryOfficerordesignee;
(3)representativesofthreeagriculturalorganizationswhocan
demonstrateexpertiseindealingwithallsizesandtypesoffarmsinVermont,
whetherthroughgrantingfunds,offeringtechnicalassistanceoradvocacyand
haveaproventrackrecordofworkingwithfarmers,appointedbythe
SecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarkets;and
(4)twofarmerswhohavereceivedrelieffunding,appointedbythe
SecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarkets.
(c)Memberterms.Themembersdesignatedinsubdivision(b)(3)ofthis
sectionshallbeappointedtoinitialtermsoftwoyears.Thereafter,each
appointedmembershallserveatermofthreeyearsoruntilthemember’s
earlierresignationorremoval.Themembersdesignatedinsubdivision(b)(4)
ofthissectionshallbeappointedtoinitialtermsofoneyear.Thereafter,each
appointedmembershallserveatermofthreeyearsoruntilthemember’s
earlierresignationorremoval.Avacancyshallbefilledbytheappointing
authorityfortheremainderoftheunexpiredterm.Anappointedmembershall
notservemorethanthreeconsecutivethree-yearterms.
(d)Powers.
(1)TheReviewBoardshallreviewapplicationsforassistanceunderthis
section,assesstheaccuracyandvalidityoftheapplications,andrecommend
totheSecretaryapplicantswhoshouldreceiveassistanceunderthissection.
(2)TheBoardannuallyshallreporttotheHouseCommitteeon
Agriculture,FoodResiliency,andForestryandtheSenateCommitteeon
AgriculturethetotaldocumentedVermontfarmfinanciallossesfromeligible
weatherconditionsaveragedoverthepreviousthreecalendaryears.
(3)InordertoensurethattheFundismeetingtheneedsofVermont’s
agriculturalcommunity,theReviewBoardannuallyshallreviewthe
applicationprocess,eligibilitycriteria,distribution,andaccessibilityofthe
Fund.TheReviewBoardannuallyshallrecommendtotheHouseCommittee
onAgriculture,FoodResiliency,andForestryandtheSenateCommitteeon
AgriculturewaystoimprovetheeffectivenessoftheFund. BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.60
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(e)Officers;committees.TheBoardmayelectofficers,establishoneor
morecommitteesorsubcommittees,andadoptsuchproceduralrulesasitshall
determinenecessaryandappropriatetoperformitswork.
(f)Quorum;meetings;voting.Amajorityofthesittingmembersshall
constituteaquorum,andactiontakenbytheBoardmaybeauthorizedbya
majorityofthememberspresentandvotingatanyregularorspecialmeeting
atwhichaquorumispresent.TheBoardmaymeetasanadvisorybodyunder
1V.S.A.chapter5,subchapter2.
(g)Compensation.Privatesectormembersshallbeentitledtoperdiem
compensationauthorizedunder32V.S.A.§1010(b)foreachdayspentinthe
performanceoftheirduties,andeachmembershallbereimbursedfromthe
Fundforthemember’sactualandnecessaryexpensesincurredincarryingout
themember’sduties.
Sec.3.APPROPRIATION
InadditiontootherfundsappropriatedtotheAgencyofAgriculture,Food
andMarketsinfiscalyear2026,thesumof$7,500,000.00isappropriatedto
theAgencyfromtheGeneralFundinfiscalyear2026forthepurposeof
implementingtheFarmSecuritySpecialFundestablishedunder6V.S.A.
chapter207,subchapter4.
Sec.4.EFFECTIVEDATE
ThisactshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.
Sec.3.EFFECTIVEDATE
ThisactshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.