MA S61

Establishes the Vacant Lots to Urban Agriculture Fund, administered by the Department of Agricultural Resources, to convert vacant lots into farms, community gardens, and agricultural enterprises in environmental justice populations in cities

Defines "vacant lot" as property not actively used or occupied within the preceding one year, including abandoned, empty, foreclosed, and underutilized spaces (excludes properties undergoing renovation due to fire or casualty)

Fund may be used for grants to municipalities for urban farming plans, pilot programs in environmental justice communities, transitioning city-held tax lien land foreclosed prior to 2021, purchasing priority private parcels, startup costs for agricultural enterprises, and conservation easements

Priority given to projects supporting agricultural education, job training, food donation to food insecure residents, and public engagement

Requires annual reporting to the legislature on grant applicants, recipients, amounts requested and awarded, and number of environmental justice block groups served