WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 55

Enacts the overdose prevention and recovery act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 7 co-sponsors

The act aims to strengthen Massachusetts’ local food systems by prioritizing local sourcing in state programs, coordinating agencies, and improving emergency resilience.

REFERRED TO HEALTH
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 55

Summary — S.55 (2025): An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts

Note on metadata: some metadata provided with the request (title “Enacts the overdose prevention and recovery act” and an unrelated sponsor list) conflicts with the bill text. This summary is based on the bill text filed as Senate No. 55 (Senate Docket 2144), titled “An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts.”

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to strengthen Massachusetts’ local food system and improve resilience of agricultural, seafood and food-processing sectors to emergencies and supply‑chain disruptions. It promotes greater distribution of “local food” through state food assistance programs, better state-level coordination, and more accurate valuation of agricultural land and infrastructure.

Key provisions

  • Emergency food/agriculture planning (new G.L. c.6A, §18BB)

    • The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) must develop and maintain a plan to support agricultural, seafood and processed‑food production in emergency preparedness and response.
    • The plan must be coordinated with the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), Department of Public Health (DPH), and Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), address production/transportation/storage/distribution, be reviewed/updated every 5 years, and be submitted to legislative clerks and relevant committees.

  • Food system coordinator (amendment to G.L. c.20, §6C; new §6D)

    • The state council (presumably the food policy council created under existing law) must appoint a full‑time food system coordinator as an employee.
    • Duties: inventory state food‑system programs across agencies, facilitate interagency communication and resource collaboration, develop/track food‑system metrics, identify gaps/duplication, advise outreach to underserved communities, and provide reports prior to each council meeting.

  • Policy to maximize local food in state assistance programs (new G.L. c.20, §6D)

    • Defines “local food” as food grown/raised/caught/processed in Massachusetts.
    • Declares policy goal to maximize distribution of local food through state food assistance while maintaining affordability and fairly valuing local product.
    • Requires annual report (due Oct 31) by MDAR in collaboration with 4 regional food banks and multiple state agencies detailing quantity, dollar value and percentage of local food distributed (by type where possible), breakdown by program (e.g., MEFAP, Healthy Incentives Program, universal free school meals, hunger‑free campus initiative, FRESH farm‑to‑school grants, senior nutrition, Meals on Wheels, senior farm share), and recommendations (including budget/policy changes) to increase local sourcing.

  • Agricultural land valuation (amendment to G.L. c.20, §23)

    • When committees/independent appraisals determine fair market value for land restricted for agricultural purposes, appraisals must include the value of easements and infrastructure (dwellings, structures, plumbing, irrigation systems) on the entire parcel.

  • Farm viability planning (beginning of §24 amendment)

    • The bill begins to direct the committee to create annual and long‑term goals tied to “farm viability” and agricultural preservation restrictions. (Text in the provided version is truncated; full provisions not available.)

Entities affected

  • State agencies: MEMA, MDAR, DPH, DTA, Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Department of Higher Education, regional food banks, and the state food council.
  • Local producers: farmers, fishers, processors and agribusinesses (may benefit from increased procurement).
  • Food assistance recipients, food banks, schools, senior programs, and related nonprofit providers.
  • Landowners participating in agricultural preservation transactions (appraisal/valuation impacts).

Procedural status and timeline (as provided)

  • Introduced: Jan 9, 2025
  • Referred to committees (Agriculture; later to Health)
  • Passed by the Senate: June 6, 2025; delivered to the House/Assembly and referred to Health
  • Hearing scheduled: Sept 16, 2025 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM, Room B‑1)
  • Note: some legislative action entries in the record are duplicated; the bill had prior-session similar matter (S.2570 of 2023–24).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Increased transparency and measurement of local food distribution could support market opportunities for Massachusetts producers.
  • Implementation may require additional staff, funding, procurement adjustments and interagency coordination.
  • Inclusion of infrastructure in land valuations could increase payments or change easement negotiations for land conservation.
  • Full effects depend on the truncated portions of the bill and any implementing regulations or appropriations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.