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H 4423

Larry Ford top musician and entertainer

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 122 co-sponsors

Creates a Food Justice Frontline to fund nonprofits with grants (up to $500,000 each) for paid food security jobs in overburdened Massachusetts communities.

Introduced and adopted
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 4423

Summary — H 4423 (2025): "An Act relative to establishing a food justice frontline"

(Note: the bill text provided also contains a separate, unrelated House resolution honoring Larry Ford — see “Other content” below.)

Main purpose

H 4423 would create a new “Food Justice Frontline” program within the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) to fund nonprofit organizations that create paid “food security jobs” for residents of environmentally and economically overburdened communities. It also directs DTA to run a youth-centered public‑awareness program to increase enrollment in SNAP, the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), and similar food access programs.

Key provisions and definitions

  • Adds two sections (2C and 2D) to Chapter 18 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • Definitions:
    • “Food security job”: any paid work involving food production, distribution, preparation, or delivery for food‑insecure Massachusetts residents.
    • “Nonprofit food security organization”: a 501(c) tax‑exempt organization with programs that (a) provide land for agricultural production to low/moderate‑income individuals or (b) provide food security jobs to low/moderate‑income individuals.
    • “Overburdened community”: a Massachusetts census block group that (1) is at or above the 75th statewide percentile for at least two specified EPA EJSCREEN environmental indicators (e.g., PM2.5, ozone, diesel PM, cancer risk, traffic proximity, lead paint indicator, superfund proximity, hazardous waste proximity, etc.), and (2) has median household income ≤ 80% of the statewide median.
  • Food Justice Frontline program (Section 2C):
    • DTA will create the program and an application process for nonprofits to receive grants (each grant not to exceed $500,000).
    • Applications must describe existing programs and how grant funds will create jobs in overburdened communities.
    • Regulations will prioritize applicants with credible plans to quickly create food security jobs.
    • Grant funds must be used entirely to create these jobs.
    • Jobs must pay at least an hourly wage equal to (statewide per capita income ÷ 2,400). (This sets a floor tied to Census per‑capita income.)
    • Nonprofits may apply for multiple grants.
    • DTA is authorized to enter contracts, hire staff/contractors, promulgate rules, and adjudicate administrative matters to implement the program.
  • Public awareness/outreach program (Section 2D):
    • DTA, with the Executive Offices of Economic Development and Housing & Liveable Communities, will establish a program to increase awareness of SNAP, HIP, and related programs.
    • The program will employ Massachusetts residents under 18 (prioritizing youth from overburdened communities and areas with median income < 80% of statewide) and conduct outreach in the native languages of target communities.
    • DTA may apply for relevant USDA federal matching programs.
    • DTA must promulgate rules to implement the program.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: low‑ and moderate‑income residents living in qualifying “overburdened communities” who would be targeted for newly created paid food‑system jobs and improved outreach to nutrition programs.
  • Nonprofit food security organizations (501(c) entities) that operate food production/distribution/preparation/delivery programs — eligible to apply for grants up to $500,000 each.
  • DTA (administration/implementation), and partner state agencies involved in outreach.
  • Potential employers/contractors in community food systems and youth employees (under 18) participating in outreach.

Fiscal and implementation notes

  • The bill authorizes grants (individual cap $500,000) but does not specify a total appropriation or funding source — fiscal impact depends on subsequent appropriations or use of federal matching funds.
  • Wage floor formula ties hourly pay to the statewide per‑capita income; the actual dollar floor will vary with Census data.
  • Implementation requires DTA rulemaking and interagency coordination; DTA may hire staff and contractors to administer the program.

Procedural status (as provided)

  • Introduced: September 8, 2025.
  • Committee actions (9/8/2025): Reported from the Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries; new draft of H128; reported favorably and referred to House Ways & Means.
  • An entry indicates “Introduced and adopted” on 04/29/2025 — this reflects the separate South Carolina resolution (see below), not the Massachusetts bill.

Other content in the provided text

The file contains a separate House resolution (South Carolina) recognizing and honoring performer Larry Ford for his career as a musician and entertainer (introduced/adopted 04/29/2025). That resolution is a nonbinding honorific and is unrelated to the Massachusetts statutory language establishing the Food Justice Frontline.

Questions and potential issues to watch

  • Funding: total program budget and source(s) (state appropriation vs. federal matching) are not specified.
  • Scope: allowing multiple $500,000 grants per nonprofit could lead to large cumulative commitments without a cap.
  • Wage formula: tying minimum hourly wage to per‑capita income/2,400 may require periodic recalculation and clarification of the reference year/data source.
  • EJSCREEN thresholds and census block–group criteria could exclude some high‑need areas depending on indicator selection and data vintage.

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

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