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MA S63

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/27/2025

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Jehlen

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Origin

Senate

194th General Court

AI Summary

  • Creates the Food Justice Frontline Program under the Department of Agricultural Resources to provide grants up to $500,000 to nonprofit food security organizations for creating jobs in food production, distribution, preparation, and delivery for food-insecure residents

  • Targets employment opportunities to residents of "Overburdened Communities," defined as Census Block Groups at or above the 75th percentile for at least 2 EPA environmental indicators and with median household income at or below 80% of statewide median

  • Requires funded positions to pay hourly wages calculated as 1/2,400 of statewide per capita income, with grant recipients using 100% of funds on job creation programs

  • Establishes a public awareness campaign for SNAP and Healthy Incentives Program, employing Massachusetts residents under age 18 at a minimum stipend of $15/hour to conduct multilingual outreach

  • Directs the Department of Transitional Assistance and Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development to apply for federal Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grants from the USDA

Legislative Description

Relative to establishing a food justice frontline

Last Action

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means

12/31/2025

Committee Referrals

Ways and Means12/31/2025
Agriculture2/27/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available