Massachusetts state legislators have filed over 6,000 bills for the 2025-2026, two-year session. Many of the bills filed are related to the food system that impacts us all.

The Southcoast Food Policy Council has identified the following bills as top priorities to advocate for now and in the coming years to improve community health, increase local food in our schools, support farmers and food entrepreneurs, eliminate food insecurity, and strengthen our regional food system.

1.) H.129/S.104 An act relative to an agricultural healthy incentives program (HIP) will become a permanent program to provide fruit and vegetables to SNAP recipients from LOCAL farmers.

2.) H.2455 /S.1141 An Act encouraging the donation of food to persons in need will provide a $25,000 tax credit to Massachusetts farmers and food businesses that donate food to food pantries. This would reduce food waste, mitigate climate impacts, and provide much-needed nutrient-dense food to individuals and families in the Commonwealth struggling with food insecurity.

3.) H.735/S.392 An Act to promote food literacy will support the Department of Secondary and Elementary (DESE) schools to create food literacy standards for students to learn about topics such as nutrition, food production, the connection between the environment and the food system, develop culinary skills, and learn about careers in the food system.

4.) S.311/H.565 An Act Establishing Farm to School Program will provide grant opportunities for public schools and licensed childcare programs to purchase locally grown food, build commercial kitchens to cook culturally appropriate healthy meals and implement food literacy curriculum.

5.) H.140/S.69 An Act to Promote Economic Opportunities for Cottage Food Entrepreneurs will create streamlined regulations throughout the Commonwealth for farmers and home cooks selling food items directly to consumers.

6.) H.111/S.53 An Act promoting equity in agriculture will establish a commission to research barriers to agriculture and make recommendations to the MA Department of Agricultural Resources to better support farmers from socially disadvantaged groups entering into agriculture as a profession.

7.) S.117 An Act establishing basic needs assistance for Massachusetts immigrant residents will restore essential food assistance using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to lawfully present immigrants. This bill will provide families with minor children, older people, and immigrants with disabilities access to essential nutrition.

Contact your State Representative and Senator and urge them to Co-Sponsor these food system bills throughout February.

To call or email your state legislators, fill out the short form on the right.

Thank you!

The SFPC Advocacy Team