An Act relative to the use of food security infrastructure grants

Summary: Senate Bill 168 (2025) — An Act relative to the use of food security infrastructure grants

Quick facts

• Bill number and title: Senate Docket No. 168, “An Act relative to the use of food security infrastructure grants”
• Introduced: February 27, 2025
• Status: Referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture
• Origin/Filed by: Senator Bruce E. Tarr
• Context: Similar matter previously filed in the 2023-2024 session (Senate No. 2366)

Purpose and main intent

The bill proposes an amendment to the appropriation language for food security infrastructure grants, directing how funds from that program should be spent. Specifically, it would require that half of the total funds appropriated for these grants be dedicated to physical infrastructure projects that benefit the commercial seafood and agricultural industries.

Key provisions

• Amendment target: Line item 1599-6078, Section 2A, of Chapter 268 of the Acts of 2022.
• New directive: After the word “grants,” insert:
  • “provided further half of the total amount of funds appropriated for food security infrastructure grants shall be spent on physical infrastructure projects to benefit the commercial seafood and agricultural industries.”
• Eligible physical infrastructure projects (non-exhaustive list):
  
  • On-vessel and land-based automatic processing machines
    
  • Refrigerated vehicles and storage facilities
    
  • On-vessel and land-based implementations to upgrade energy efficiency, lower carbon footprints, and improve operational efficiencies
    
  • Wash and pack stations
    
  • Agricultural storage facilities
    
  • High tunnels and greenhouses
    
  • Upgrades to improve energy efficiency, lower carbon footprints, and enhance efficiencies for irrigation, tractors, and similar implements

Scope and beneficiaries

• Industries targeted: Commercial seafood and agricultural sectors in Massachusetts.
• Impact on funding allocation: The bill guarantees that 50% of the total funds for food security infrastructure grants are steered toward the listed physical infrastructure projects for the targeted industries. The remaining 50% of funds (not specified in detail in the amendment) would presumably remain available for other eligible uses within the program, consistent with existing law.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Current stage: Referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture (as of the introduction date).
• Legislative path: As a proposed bill, passage would require approval by both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court and signature by the Governor.
• Notes on history: Similar policy proposals existed in the 2023-2024 session (Senate No. 2366), indicating ongoing interest in structuring food security infrastructure funding.

Potential impacts and considerations

• Positive impacts: Increased investment in physical infrastructure for seafood and agriculture; potential gains in energy efficiency, reduced carbon footprints, improved processing and storage capacity, and better supply chain resilience for key industries.
• Implementation considerations: Oversight and reporting to ensure eligible projects meet the “physical infrastructure” criteria; clarity on how the remaining 50% of funds would be allocated and monitored; potential regional distribution effects and accessibility for smaller producers.

What would be affected

• State funding allocations under the food security infrastructure grants program (Line item 1599-6078, Chapter 268, Acts of 2022).
• Eligible applicants within the commercial seafood and agricultural sectors seeking infrastructure enhancements.

If you want, I can add a brief comparison to the prior version (Senate No. 2366, 2023-2024) or outline likely fiscal-year implications based on typical grant scales.