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H 3331

Teaching scholarship

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Neal Collins

Creates the Executive Office of Food Resources and Security in Massachusetts to centralize policy, funding, and programs for local food production, nutrition, and jobs.

Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 3331

Bill Summary — H 3331

Note: The bill file for H 3331 contains two different sets of text. The primary Massachusetts bill text in this file would create an Executive Office of Food Resources and Security. Separately, the document also includes unrelated draft language from a South Carolina statute amending a Teaching Fellows/Palmetto Fellows scholarship program. This summary focuses on the Massachusetts legislation actually contained in H 3331, and flags the unrelated teaching‑scholarship language that appears in the same document.

Purpose and intent

H 3331 would create a Cabinet‑level Executive Office of Food Resources and Security (the “Office”) in Massachusetts to centralize policy, programs, research, financing, and administrative oversight related to food production, food security, nutrition, and local food economic development. The Office is intended to support food producers (including farmers and commercial fishers), strengthen local food systems, expand workforce development, and improve nutrition and food‑related public policy.

Key provisions and changes

  • Adds “food resources and security” to the list of executive branch subject areas in chapter 6A (sec. 2).
  • Amends chapter 23G to permit loans to food producers selected by the new department of investment and financing for food production (references section 10 of new chapter 28B).
  • Establishes a new chapter (28B) creating the Executive Office of Food Resources and Security:
    • Creates the Office and an appointed Secretary of Food Resources and Security (appointed by the Governor).
    • Establishes multiple departments within the Office, each led by a commissioner:
    • Department of Food Production
    • Department of Food Labor and Workforce Development
    • Department of Food Innovation, Development and Research
    • Department of Investment and Financing for Food Production
    • Department of Food Security, Identification and Labeling
    • Department of Economic Development for Locally‑Produced Food
    • Department of Nutrition and Food Health
    • Department of Self‑Sufficiency for Food Production
    • Organizational/administrative provisions:
    • Office functions as a single state agency for administrative purposes (accounting, finance).
    • Secretary may consolidate and designate “core administrative functions” (HR, finance, IT, legal, procurement, asset management).
    • Commissioners appointed/removed by the Secretary with Governor’s approval; commissioners’ positions not subject to standard civil‑service (chapter 31) provisions; salaries and classification handled under chapter 30 rules cited.
    • Powers and duties (broadly stated):
    • Adopt regulations necessary to implement laws administered by Office entities.
    • Foster and support food producers, promote job creation and economic development in food sectors, develop workforce programs, improve nutrition, market/brand local foods, undertake and support research (including lab facilities), enter contracts/partnerships, and design programs to reduce input costs and strengthen financing/business planning for producers.
    • Administer programs to strengthen food production and self‑sufficiency in the Commonwealth.

Who would be affected

  • Food producers: farmers and licensed commercial fishers across Massachusetts.
  • Food‑related businesses and local food markets.
  • State agencies and employees: new commissioners and staff, re‑organized administrative units.
  • Research institutions and laboratories partnering with the Office.
  • Consumers and communities that may benefit from local food initiatives and nutrition programs.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Prefiled: 2024‑12‑05
  • Introduced / read first time: 2025‑01‑14
  • Referred to Committee on Ways and Means and to the committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight (dates in record: 2025‑01‑14 and 2025‑02‑27)
  • Additional actions listed: “Senate concurred”; hearings scheduled 10/14/2025 (B‑2)
  • Related bill: HD 3462 (replaces)

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Centralizes state food policy and could improve coordination across programs (positive for efficiency and strategic planning).
  • May create new administrative positions and require appropriations (no specific funding amounts or appropriation directives are included in the text excerpt).
  • Expands regulatory and contracting authority over multiple food‑related areas; possible implications for producer financing, labeling rules, and workforce regulations.
  • Commissioners’ exemption from civil service may affect hiring/employment practices and governance.

Note about the unrelated material

The file also contains draft South Carolina statutory language establishing a supplemental teaching scholarship tied to the Teaching Fellows program — this appears to be unrelated to the Massachusetts Office of Food Resources and Security and should not be conflated with H 3331’s primary subject.

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

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