An Act clarifying the definition of agriculture

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jake Oliveira

The bill adds growing and cultivation of hemp and marijuana to Massachusetts’ definition of agriculture, broadening eligibility for related programs and resources.

Referred to the committee on Agriculture

Overview

Senate Docket No. 531, titled An Act clarifying the definition of agriculture, seeks to explicitly include the growing and cultivation of hemp and marijuana within Massachusetts’ definition of agriculture. The bill was introduced by Senator Jacob R. Oliveira and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture on February 27, 2025.

Key Provision

Amends the first paragraph of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 128, Section 1A.

The amendment adds the phrase: “the growing and cultivation of both hemp and marijuana,” immediately after the existing language “floricultural or horticultural commodities.”

The rest of the statute remains unchanged.

Purpose and Effect

Purpose: To clarify and formalize that hemp and marijuana cultivation fall under the scope of “agriculture” in state law.

Effect: The definitional change could affect how hemp and marijuana activities are treated under agricultural programs, exemptions, licenses, and regulatory frameworks that hinge on the term “agriculture.” It may also influence eligibility for agricultural resources, tax classifications, or other programs tied to the agricultural definition.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Farmers and producers growing hemp and/or marijuana: Explicit inclusion in the broad category of agriculture could impact regulatory eligibility and access to programs tied to agriculture.

Regulatory and supporting agencies (e.g., Department of Agricultural Resources and related programs): May reference the broadened definition when applying existing agricultural provisions or administering programs.

Related industries and businesses: Businesses involved in hemp or cannabis cultivation could experience changes in how they are categorized for state programs or incentives aimed at agriculture.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Status: Referred to the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Agriculture.

Introduced: February 27, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 531).

Filed: January 13, 2025.

Legislative history note: A similar measure was filed in a prior session (House No. 94 in 2023-2024), indicating ongoing interest in clarifying this definition.

Considerations

The bill does not alter licensing, regulatory controls, or specific cannabis laws themselves; it clarifies a definitional scope within existing statutes.

Implementation and any downstream regulatory changes would depend on future actions by the legislature and relevant agencies, as well as compatibility with federal cannabis policy.

If you’d like, I can add a brief section on potential interaction with existing cannabis and hemp regulations in Massachusetts to provide additional context.

Bill