Maine LD1605: An Act to Support Farmers and Food Banks Affected by Federal Funding Cuts to Their Existing Contracts

What the bill says

An Act to Support Farmers and Food Banks Affected by Federal Funding Cuts to Their Existing Contracts (AFTER DEADLINE) Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 205. Received by the Secretary of the Senate on April 11, 2025. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed. DAREK M. GRANT Secretary of the Senate Presented by Senator BRENNER of Cumberland…

From the introduced text:

An Act to Support Farmers and Food Banks Affected by Federal Funding Cuts to Their Existing Contracts (AFTER DEADLINE) Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 205. Received by the Secretary of the Senate on April 11, 2025. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed. DAREK M. GRANT Secretary of the Senate Presented by Senator BRENNER of Cumberland. Cosponsored by Representative GUERRETTE of Caribou and Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, BLACK of Franklin, HICKMAN of Kennebec, TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland, TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin, Representatives: DILL of Old Town, JACKSON of Oxford, PLUECKER of Warren. Printed on recycled paper Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §320-D is enacted to read: §320-D. Food System Protection Program The Food System Protection Program, referred to in this section as "the program," is established and administered by the department to provide zero-interest loans and other resources to qualifying producers within the State, and qualifying nonprofit organizations within the State, established for the purpose of reducing hunger and increasing food security that have been affected by federal funding cuts and other changes to the status of contracts and certain federal programs. The department shall establish an application process for …

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Sponsors

• Stacy Brenner (D, 30) · primary sponsor