Senate Passes FARM Bill to Support the Farms That Feed Massachusetts

Makes farm-to-table programs permanent, combats federal cuts and climate change threats

APRIL 2, 2026

Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate in passing the FARM Bill, agricultural legislation aimed at supporting Massachusetts’ 7,000 farms, making it easier for families to buy fresh and healthy food, and protecting the state’s food supply for the future.

The legislation—formally known as S.3029, An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts—is a major step forward in supporting Massachusetts farmers and growing the state’s agricultural economy. It builds on a recent special commission report focused on making Massachusetts agricultural operations sustainable for the 21st century.

The FARM Bill helps owners of small farms to grow their businesses by removing hurdles and making agritourism ventures possible, such as corn mazes and ‘pick your own’ berry and fruit operations. The legislation also supports expanding farm operations with a local option property tax exemption for new agricultural buildings.

“Massachusetts relies on the farms and fisheries that put fresh, local food on our tables, and it’s on us to make sure they can keep going and thrive,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This bill does exactly that. It helps farms stay open, makes it easier for families to buy fresh, local food, and strengthens our food system for the long run. When we support our farmers, we’re supporting everyone in Massachusetts. I’m grateful to Chairs Rodrigues and Fernandes for their leadership, and to Senator Comerford for her steadfast advocacy on behalf of farmers across the Commonwealth.”

“Today, the Senate took decisive action to bolster the Commonwealth’s agricultural industry and also address persistent food insecurity in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Farmland is one of the most tangible assets we have in the state, and this bill protects and ensures the future of farms for generations to come. By codifying essential food nutrition programs, we strengthen our food assistance safety net that is threatened by both the uncertainty at the federal level and the continuing effects of the pandemic. I’m especially proud that we also strengthen our vital cranberry industry, Massachusetts’ most valuable agricultural product. I would like to thank Senate President Spilka for her leadership, and also Vice Chair Comerford and Senator Fernandes for their work and leadership on this bill and their steadfast support of the agricultural community.”

The bill makes it easier for residents to access healthy food, making permanent the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) to help families afford fresh produce and the Farm to School program to bring local ingredients into schools. By codifying these programs, the Senate is continuing its response to federal actions that threaten food access as a part of the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative. A further Response 2025 priority requires that state emergency planning efforts prioritize the security of the local food supply chain given federal cuts to emergency planning.

The FARM Bill additionally requires regular reporting on the distribution of local produce through food banks, universal school meals, Meals on Wheels, the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP), and other food assistance programs. This data will help assesses the damage from detrimental federal actions such as the elimination of the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which purchased food from historically underserved Massachusetts farmers and provided it to underserved communities.

“As Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries, I'm proud to support the Senate's effort to build a more resilient and sustainable food system in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Dylan A. Fernandes (D-Falmouth), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries. “The FARM Bill will expand access to fresh, locally grown food while putting more money into the hands of our farmers and fishermen. By reducing costs, strengthening supply chains, and expanding reliable markets, this legislation makes strategic investments into an industry that is essential for our economy, environment, and the health of our communities. I’m deeply grateful to Senator Comerford for championing this bill and to the work of the Senate President and Ways and Means Chair for bringing it to the floor.”

“Today, the Senate advanced urgently-needed legislation to support the farms, producers, and fisheries that are the foundation of our local and regional food systems,” said Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), co-Chair of the Special Commission on Agriculture in the 21st Century and Senate Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries. “In western and north central Massachusetts, where agriculture is core to our economy and identity, we know that when we lose farmland, we lose far more than fields—we lose livelihoods, food security, and community. This legislation reflects the recommendations of the Special Commission on Agriculture in the 21st Century—a body that I was proud to co-chair. I’m grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka and Ways and Means Chair Mike Rodrigues for their steadfast leadership. With the FARM Bill, Massachusetts is stepping up—investing in the next generation of farms and fisheries while ensuring more local, nutritious food reaches Massachusetts families.”

Supporting Farmers and Growing the Agricultural Economy

The legislation includes key provisions to help farmers remain viable and expand their operations. New farm buildings and structures would receive a five-year property tax exemption under a local option program added to the bill during session. Senators voted 38-0 to adopt the property tax exemption (Amendment 5).

The bill also expands opportunities for farmers to participate in agritourism, makes the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) Program permanent, and eases the water permitting process for cranberry growers.

Planning for the Future of Agriculture and Climate Change

The FARM Bill includes forward-looking initiatives to protect farmland and improve long-term planning by creating a statewide agricultural land database and improving the evaluation of the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program to ensure long-term sustainability.

It directs emergency planning efforts to prioritize local food production and avoid supply chain disruptions, and explores renewable energy opportunities on farmland, balancing clean energy goals with agricultural land preservation.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced the legislation to the full Senate with a 16-0 vote on March 23, 2026. All committee votes are posted on the Legislature’s website and full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate Press Room.

The Senate passed the bill on a 39-0 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.

Statements of Support

Warren Shaw, President, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation

“The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation supports S3029, An Act Fostering Agricultural Resilience in Massachusetts. This legislation takes practical steps to strengthen farm viability by investing in food system infrastructure, expanding market access through programs like HIP and Farm to School, and supporting the next generation of farmers. Massachusetts

farms operate in a high-cost environment and face increasing pressure on land, labor, and infrastructure, and this bill helps address those challenges in a meaningful way. We appreciate the Senate’s continued engagement with the agricultural community.”

Becca Miller, Policy Director, Massachusetts Food System Collaborative

“The Senate’s passage of An Act Fostering Agricultural Resilience in Massachusetts will support the local food system, including the next generation of farmers—a critical step when 30 per cent of farms are expected to change hands in the coming decades, and agricultural land is out of reach for many young and beginning farmers. The Collaborative has heard from our farmer and SNAP client partners that they need consistency with the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) and are pleased with the inclusion of the HIP enabling legislation in this package. We are deeply grateful to Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and Senator Comerford for championing the local food system, and we urge the House to take up this bill.”

Simca Horwitz, Co-Director, Massachusetts Farm to School

“The Senate’s passage of the FARM Bill is a really important step forward in developing a more sustainable, just food system here in Massachusetts. The codification of the Farm to School FRESH Grant program means more students will have access to healthy, local food in their school meals, more schools and early education programs will be able to provide experiential food and agriculture education, and more farmers and fishers will have reliable markets for their harvests. We are very grateful for President Spilka and Senator Comerford’s leadership in advancing legislation that will ensure our students are nourished and our farms are more resilient.”

Brian Wick, Executive Director of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association

“An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts includes a vital change to the law that allows a cranberry grower retiring a bog that has a water withdrawal permit for use in cranberry production to transfer that permit to municipalities, which can then use those permits to draw additional water to meet local needs. On behalf of our Massachusetts cranberry growers, we are very grateful to the Senate leadership for including this long-sought opportunity. This idea arises out of the 2016 Cranberry Revitalization Task Force Report and creates a revenue source for growers looking to retire some or all of their bog acreage, while assisting municipalities with their water resource needs. We thank Senators Spilka, Rodrigues, Fernandes, and Comerford for their advocacy.”

Andrea Solazzo, Senior Manager of External Affairs, New England, American Farmland Trust

“Massachusetts has lost 27,000 acres of farmland in just five years—a rate of loss twice the national average. The FARM Bill takes meaningful steps to reverse that trend by strengthening the Agricultural Preservation Restriction program, creating a statewide registry and map of agricultural land, and ensuring that renewable energy development and farmland protection can go hand in hand. American Farmland Trust is proud to support this legislation and the Commonwealth's commitment to keeping farmers on the land.”

Jennifer Core, Executive Director, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture

“I’m writing in strong support of An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts—the FARM Bill. At CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), we work with hundreds of farms in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties each year, providing expert technical assistance and marketing support, and building consumer interest in local food and farm products. The FARM Bill is an opportunity for the Commonwealth to create new financial opportunities for local farms and invest in research and evaluation, especially related to tracking the preservation and use of Massachusetts farmland, which will allow for smart planning and future resources. Crucially, the FARM Bill codifies state programs that have been tested and shown to be effective. The Food Security Infrastructure Program (FSIG) and HIP (Healthy Incentives Program) are two examples of wise investments the state has made in the interest of farm viability, state resilience, and food access. Permanently codifying these programs will allow farm businesses to more confidently plan for infrastructure improvements on their farms and to grow food for all the consumers who rely on them, regardless of income. We thank each of you for your support of this bill.”

Phoebe Walker, Chair, MA Food Policy Council Advocacy Committee

“The Massachusetts Food Policy Council works to increase farming and sales of Massachusetts grown foods. It also works to develop and support programs to bring healthy foods to everyone in the state. The Council’s priorities include protecting land and water and building the capacity of farmers and workers in the food system. The Advocacy Committee of the Food Policy Council is made up of non-Administration appointees to the Council, representing multiple sectors of the food system in the Commonwealth. The FARM Bill is one of our four 2025-26 legislative session priorities. Local agriculture plays a key role in the Commonwealth’s food system and economy, but despite their essential contributions, many farmers struggle to make a profit and keep their farms and businesses afloat, on average earning just 95 cents for every dollar they spend producing food. The FARM Bill would be transformative for the Massachusetts food and agriculture system: it includes a number of critical reforms to support farms and farmers and preserve valuable farmland. We applaud the speedy passage of the bill in the Senate.”

Laura Sylvester, Public Policy Manager, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

“In this era of federal cuts, rising prices, and political instability, it’s more important than ever to build scaffolding that supports the Commonwealth's food supply. The FARM Bill supports the emergency food system and farmers by creating more safety nets, more resources for advocates, and better opportunities for food to grow. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts strongly supports this bill and is grateful to Senator Comerford for her leadership on this issue.”

Catherine D’Amato, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank

“The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) strongly supports the passage of S.2801 as hunger rises across Massachusetts and federal nutrition supports decline. As stewards of the MEFAP program, we work every day to purchase local, healthy food for our agency partners. This bill will strengthen Massachusetts farmers and fishermen and, as a result, enable GBFB and our Food Bank Coalition of Massachusetts partners to purchase more local food while meeting growing demand. At a critical moment, S.2801 ensures we can better serve our neighbors in need while supporting the local economy.”

Derek Costa, Superintendent and Director, Bristol County Agricultural High School (Bristol Aggie)

“Bristol Aggie strongly supports S.3029 An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts, which advances food system resiliency, workforce development, and equitable access to locally produced food across Massachusetts. The Bristol Aggie campus, serving over 650 students from more than 40 communities, is a real-world agricultural hub where students gain hands-on experience and contribute to local food systems. This legislation aligns with our work connecting education, agriculture, and community impact, including our Co-Op and internship programs, Farm to School initiatives, and the development of our Agricultural Institute. By investing in infrastructure, workforce training, and local food access, this bill helps ensure that students are prepared to meet the growing demand for skilled workers while strengthening the Commonwealth’s agricultural economy.”

Linda Dunlavy, Executive Director, Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG)

“As the Commonwealth’s most rural county, Franklin County’s economy is deeply tied to the health of its farming and food sectors. The FRCOG works across sectors to build a resilient and healthy region, and the FARM Bill would help us do that better. During a time of federal disinvestment in local agriculture, the bill’s combination of policies and investments will go a long way to stabilizing the future of agriculture in Massachusetts. We are grateful to Senate leadership for this important step and hope to see the bill move to the House next.”

Rebecca Busansky, Executive Director, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures

“I am writing on behalf of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures to express my strong support for the FARM Bill. Its passage is an important step toward securing the future of our local food systems across the Commonwealth. This comprehensive bill would create a strong foundation for farmers at all stages to thrive and protect our agricultural land and practices. I am thankful for your continued support for this bill to ensure a stable, local food future for all residents.”

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