Bill
S 60
Creates the Agriculture and Fishery Vulnerability Preparedness Grant Fund to finance climate adaptation planning and resilience projects for Massachusetts farms and fisheries.
Note on document inconsistencies
- The bill packet supplied contains conflicting metadata (bill title referencing payroll cards; sponsors listed as Rand Paul and Patrick M. Gallivan). The actual bill text and the Senate cover page identify Senator Dylan A. Fernandes as the presenter and title the measure “An Act to address the impact of climate change on farms and fisheries.” This summary is based on the bill text (establishing an Agriculture and Fishery Vulnerability Preparedness Grant Fund) and the accompanying legislative actions.
Purpose
- Establish a dedicated grant fund to help Massachusetts farms and fisheries plan for, adapt to, and implement climate change resilience measures. The fund finances planning, technical assistance, priority project implementation, and monitoring of outcomes.
Key provisions
- New statutory section (Chapter 29, Section 2RRRRR) creates the “Agriculture and Fishery Vulnerability Preparedness Grant Fund.”
- Administration: Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs administers the fund in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources and the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game.
- Revenue sources: appropriations or other amounts specifically designated by the General Court, interest earned, and public/private gifts, grants, or donations. Bond proceeds accepted must be kept separate.
- Non-reversion: amounts credited to the fund do not revert to the General Fund and are not subject to further appropriation constraints; donor restrictions cannot further limit use beyond statute.
- Eligible uses: grants to farms and fisheries for planning climate adaptation/resiliency, seeking implementation funding, and implementing priority projects. Examples listed include controlled-environment growing, energy efficiency and renewables, climate-resilient management practices, nature-based solutions, infrastructure for resilience, and data collection/monitoring. Secretary may define additional eligible purposes.
- Technical assistance: funds may be used to provide technical assistance to help applicants prioritize projects, develop applications, plan adaptations, and identify funding sources.
- Allocation among sectors: awards to applicants in each eligible sector (farms vs. fisheries) shall be proportionate to the amount requested by applicants in each sector.
- Rulemaking and oversight: Secretary must promulgate implementing rules and file policies/regulations with the Joint Committee on Agriculture at least 30 days before they take effect.
- Reporting: quarterly reports to House and Senate Ways & Means, Joint Committee on Agriculture, and clerks must include lists of applicants/recipients (with counties), amounts requested and awarded, sector classification, annual sources/uses statement, forecast of future payments, administrative cost breakdown, and description of technical assistance provided.
- Effective date: Section 1 (the new fund) takes effect immediately upon passage.
Who is affected
- Primary: Massachusetts farms and fisheries seeking support for climate adaptation and resilience projects.
- Secondary: Executive agencies (EEA, Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Fisheries & Wildlife) responsible for administration and rulemaking; potential private donors and grant-makers; state budget/appropriations processes if General Court funds the program.
Procedural status (from provided actions)
- Introduced in Senate 2025-01-09; multiple committee referrals listed (Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs; Agriculture; Agriculture & Fisheries). Hearing scheduled 05/13/2025. The bill had subsequent referrals, including to the committee on Agriculture and Fisheries (6/27/2025). (Metadata shows conflicting “REFERRED TO LABOR” entries; those appear inconsistent with the bill text and presenter.)
Potential impacts and fiscal considerations
- Provides a dedicated stream (conditional on appropriations and donations) to strengthen farm and fishery resilience to climate impacts.
- Financial impact depends on amounts appropriated or donated; non-reversion increases multi-year program stability but may require ongoing appropriations or bond authority.
- Reporting and technical assistance provisions aim to improve transparency and project effectiveness. Allocation by sector tied to application volume could shape who receives funding in practice.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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