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S 104

Library funding

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Gambrell and 3 co-sponsors

Creates a year-round SNAP produce matching program to boost fruit/vegetable access, funded by the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Fund and expanded vendor participation.

Referred to Committee on Education
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Bill Summary · S 104

Summary — S.104 (2025): An Act Relative to an Agricultural Healthy Incentives Program

Status: Introduced in Senate Jan 15, 2025; COMMITTED TO RULES (as of 2025-06-13).
Primary sponsor (filed): Senator Joanne M. Comerford (with multiple co-petitioners)

Purpose / Intent

Establish a year‑round healthy incentives program to increase access to fruits and vegetables for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients by providing matching benefits when SNAP dollars are used to purchase produce. The program aims to improve nutrition, support local agricultural vendors, and expand access in historically underserved communities.

Key provisions

  • Establishes a year‑round healthy incentives program operated by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in partnership with the Department of Agricultural Resources and the Department of Public Health.
  • SNAP purchases of fruit and vegetables (fresh, canned, dried, or frozen) at participating vendors will entitle recipients to receive a matching benefit deposited on their EBT card. The matching amount/limits are to be determined by the DTA.
  • When expanding vendor participation, DTA must prioritize areas with limited access to fresh/local produce and historically underserved communities, and collaborate with local food coalitions and nonprofits for outreach and equitable access.
  • Creates the “Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Fund” (separate fund on the Commonwealth’s books) administered by the DTA commissioner. The Fund may include appropriations, gifts, grants, donations, federal reimbursements, and other receipts.
  • Authorizes DTA and partners to apply for federal programs (e.g., Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program administered by USDA) to secure matching funds.
  • Requires DTA to promulgate regulations to implement the program.

Reporting / Transparency

  • Annual report due each year on or before January 31 to legislative clerks and relevant committees (House/Senate Ways & Means, Children, Families & Persons with Disabilities, Agriculture), and to be posted on DTA’s website.
  • Required report content includes: program participation counts and demographics (household size, age, race), number of transactions, vendor list and municipality breakdowns, vendors denied due to funding/administrative constraints, planned efforts/timeline and metrics for expanding into underserved areas, and recommendations to improve performance.

Who is affected

  • SNAP recipients who purchase eligible produce — potential increased purchasing power for fruits and vegetables.
  • Participating vendors (farmers markets, farm stands, grocery retailers, and other approved outlets) who accept SNAP and enroll in the program — may receive reimbursements for matching benefits.
  • State agencies (DTA, Department of Agricultural Resources, Department of Public Health) and local food coalitions implementing outreach, enrollment, and vendor expansion.
  • Municipalities that are targeted for increased vendor siting and outreach.

Implementation & Legislative status

  • DTA must adopt implementing regulations.
  • Procedural history (selected): introduced 1/15/2025; referred to committee; advanced to third reading 4/9/2025; COMMITTED TO RULES 6/13/2025. A committee hearing was scheduled for 9/16/2025 (per docket entries). (Multiple docket entries appear; readers should consult the official legislative clerk for the most current status.)

Notes / Unspecified items

  • The bill delegates specific matching amounts/limits and vendor selection criteria to DTA rulemaking; no appropriation amount for the Fund is specified in the text.
  • Outcomes (budgetary impact, estimated number of new vendors/participants) are not provided in the bill text and would depend on funding and program design.

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

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