3/25/25, 1:00 PM - Committee Hearing: Revenue, State House Room A-1 & Virtual

Status: Normal
Date/Time: 3/25/25 1:00 PM
Location: State House Room A-1 & Virtual
Committee: Joint Committee on Revenue (JRV)
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Proposals for Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution

Please be advised that the schedule and agenda are subject to change at the agreement of the Chairs.

Proposals for Amendments to the Constitution are required to be reported on by April 30, 2025.

The public is invited to participate in this hybrid hearing, which will be livestreamed on the General Court website, https://malegislature.gov/. Hearings will be recorded and posted publicly on the Joint Committee on Revenue page, https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/J26.

All written testimony received by the committee will be made publicly available. At the discretion of the Chairs and per committee rules, limitations and redactions shall exist for sharing testimony that includes sensitive personal information or information that may jeopardize the health, wellness or safety of the testifier or others. Any person submitting written testimony may request such testimony remain private and said testimony will not be made publicly available.

Written testimony can be submitted via email at JointCommittee.Revenue@malegislature.gov or physically mailed to the House Chair: CHAIR ADRIAN MADARO

JOINT COMMITTEE ON REVENUE

ATTN: BRIDGETTE MAYNARD

24 BEACON ST ROOM 34

BOSTON MA 02133

In-person oral testimony and remote testimony sign-up via email to Bridgette Maynard at bridgette.maynard@mahouse.gov

For in-person and remote testimony please include:

1. Name;

2. Organization you represent;

3. Whether on behalf of yourself or an organization;

4. Mailing address;

5. Email address;

6. Telephone number;

7. In-person or remote testimony;

8. Bills testifying on;

9. Whether support or oppose.

For those testifying remotely, you will receive a Microsoft Teams link with more information prior to the start of the hearing.

This hearing will be chaired by House Chair Adrian Madaro. If you have any questions regarding the hearing, legislation, format of the hearing or reasonable accommodations required to ensure people with disabilities can participate fully in the committee process, please email: Bridgette Maynard at (bridgette.maynard@mahouse.gov). House Chair Madaro’s office can be reached via telephone: (617) 722-2320.


Related files:
Written Testimony: Sen. Jo Comerford, Rep. Natalie Blais, and Rep. Hannah Kane Testimony in Support of HB71 & SB11
Related to HB71 (HD2701) - Rep. Natalie Blais (D) - Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to agricultural and horticultural lands
Related to SB11 (SD1673) - Sen. Joanne Comerford (D) - Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to agricultural and horticultural lands

Bill # Title Last Action Status Track
03/25/2025 - Joint Committee on Revenue
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Transcript
Legislators (1)
Bills (2)
Edited transcripts may contain spelling errors due to broadcast quality, or the technical nature of the content.
REP0.96 MADARO0.96 -0.96 COMMITTEE0.96 CO-CHAIR0.96 -0.96 Welcome.0.96 This1.44 is1.84 the1.92 joint2.24 committee2.64 on3.04 revenue3.28 here4.08 for4.32 our4.48 first4.72 hearing.4.96 My5.36 name5.44 is5.6 Adrian5.76 C.6.16 Madaro,6.48 and6.48 I'm6.64 the6.88 house7.04 chair7.28 of7.52 the7.6 committee7.76 joined8.16 today8.4 by8.72 my8.96 senate9.2 cochair,9.52 Senator10 Jamie10.4 Eldridge.10.8 Very11.52 excited11.76 to12.08 work12.16 with12.4 you12.56 on12.64 this12.72 committee,12.88 Senator.14 I'm14.13 also14.29 joined14.54 today14.7 by14.94 members15.1 of15.34 the15.41 committee15.58 from15.82 the15.97 house.16.14 We16.38 have16.61 committee16.77 vice17.18 chair,17.41 Representative18.86 Linsky19.26 and19.26 then19.34 Representatives19.57 Palmino,20.3 Gomez,21.02 Phillips,22.61 Plough,23.34 and24.05 Wells.24.21 Thank24.94 you25.18 all25.34 so25.49 much25.65 for25.89 being26.05 here26.21 today.26.45 I28.54 will28.7 now28.94 turn29.18 it29.41 over29.57 to29.73 chair29.81 Eldridge30.03 to30.51 say30.67 some,30.99 remarks31.39 and31.71 introduce31.87 the32.19 senate32.35 numbers.32.59
33.55 SEN33.55 ELDRIDGE33.55 -33.55 CO-CHAIR33.55 -33.55 Great.33.55 Thank34.19 you,34.35 Chair34.91 Madaro.35.55 I'm35.55 very35.79 excited36.51 and36.83 proud37.07 to37.39 serve37.47 with37.71 you37.95 as,38.11 co38.91 chairs39.07 of39.39 the39.47 joint39.63 committee39.95 of40.43 new.40.59 Very41.47 pleased41.79 that42.03 this42.19 is42.43 the42.51 first,42.67 I42.99 believe,43.07 hearing43.87 of44.27 any44.43 joint44.67 committee,44.99 for45.63 the45.7 legislative45.95 session.46.42 And,47.38 for48.19 the48.51 senators48.74 that49.15 are49.3 on49.47 this49.63 committee,49.78 pleased50.42 to50.74 join50.83 pleased51.3 that,51.55 Senator51.86 John52.27 Keenan52.51 from52.83 Quincy53.06 has53.47 joined53.55 us.53.78 So53.86 thank54.02 you,54.19 Senator54.34 Keenan,54.74 and55.3 looking55.55 forward55.78 to56.1 hearing56.27 testimony.56.66 Thank57.48 you.57.72
58.44 MADARO58.44 -58.44 Thank58.44 you,58.6 Chair58.84 Eldridge.59.08 Today,59.72 we'll60.04 hear60.2 testimony60.44 on60.92 four61.16 bills61.4 concerning61.8 proposed62.2 amendments62.68 to63.08 the63.24 Massachusetts63.4 constitution.64.12 Proposals65.24 for65.64 amendments65.88 to66.28 the66.36 constitution66.52 are67.16 required67.32 to67.72 be67.88 reported68.12 on68.68 by68.92 04/30/2025.69.16 As71.75 you71.91 may72.06 know,72.15 there72.39 are72.55 multiple72.63 ways73.03 to73.27 amend73.34 the73.67 constitution.73.75 One74.63 way74.87 is75.11 through75.27 initiative76.06 petition76.7 requiring77.27 a77.75 certain77.91 amount78.23 of78.47 signatures78.63 from79.11 Massachusetts79.34 voters80.15 in80.7 the80.87 attorney81.03 general's81.42 approval.81.83 Then82.63 over83.13 two84.17 successive84.89 legislative85.37 sessions,86.09 the86.89 constitutional87.05 amendment87.69 proposal88.01 must88.49 receive88.73 more89.13 than89.37 25%89.61 total90.97 approval91.37 of91.77 members91.93 of92.17 the92.33 Massachusetts92.49 General93.21 Court93.61 during94.17 a94.49 joint94.57 session94.89 of95.21 the95.29 two95.56 branches.95.81 Once96.61 the96.84 25%97.01 threshold97.89 is98.28 reached,98.53 further98.84 signatures99.25 are99.73 no99.89 longer100.13 required.100.44 Under101.25 article101.56 48101.89 of102.37 the102.44 Massachusetts102.69 Constitution,103.41 proposals104.13 to104.61 change104.77 the105.08 constitution105.25 can106.44 also106.61 occur106.92 by107.48 legislative107.73 amendments108.28 during108.77 a109.17 joint109.25 session.109.73 A110.92 proposal111.16 must111.64 be111.96 approved112.12 by112.92 a113.08 majority,113.24 50%113.72 plus114.44 1,114.68 of115.16 the115.32 Massachusetts115.56 House116.2 and116.36 Senate116.52 over116.92 two117.16 successive117.48 legislative118.2 sessions.118.76
119.64 If119.64 the119.8 proposed119.96 amendment120.36 is120.84 successfully121 passed121.64 by122.28 the122.44 legislature,122.68 then123.32 it123.48 can123.56 be123.72 placed123.8 on124.12 the124.2 ballot124.28 to124.38 be124.48 ratified124.58 by124.68 a124.76 first128.22 step128.29 is128.85 today's128.94 public129.42 hearing129.9 process.130.14 So130.62 I130.69 thank130.78 you131.01 all131.18 for131.34 being131.57 here131.9 virtually132.14 and132.62 in132.78 person133.09 to133.81 share133.97 your134.29 thoughts134.46 on134.62 the134.85 legislation134.94 before135.81 us135.97 today.136.14 We136.62 look136.85 forward137.01 to137.25 hearing137.42 from137.74 all137.97 of138.06 you.138.53 Before138.78 we139.18 begin139.34 testimony,139.66 a140.27 quick140.35 review140.67 of140.99 the141.07 process.141.15 Please142.11 be142.43 aware142.67 that143.15 this143.31 hearing143.55 is143.87 being144.03 recorded144.35 and144.99 streamed145.23 live.145.87 An146.51 archived146.75 copy147.23 will147.55 be147.71 made147.79 available148.03 on148.35 the148.51 legislature's148.67 website.149.31 Today,150.35 we'll150.67 be150.83 hearing150.99 oral151.39 testimony151.71 on152.19 bills152.35 related152.67 to152.99 the153.07 proposed153.15 amendments153.63 to153.67 the153.71 Massachusetts153.75 Constitution.153.79 Due153.83 to153.87 the154.19 hybrid160.62 nature160.62 of160.62 this160.62 hearing160.62 those,160.62 wishing160.62 to160.62 provide160.62 remote160.62 testimony160.62 were160.98 required161.35 to161.71 sign162.08 up162.44 in162.81 advance.163.18 If164.06 you164.14 were164.25 not164.38 able164.94 to165.25 testify165.34 today,165.75 you166.18 may166.6 submit167.02 written167.25 testimony167.34 to168.53 the168.78 committee169.02 until169.66 5169.97 PM170.38 on170.38 Wednesday,170.72 April171.04 23171.57 via172.24 email,172.56 jointcommittee.revenue@malegislature.gov,173.6 or176.48 physically176.64 mailed177.04 to177.36 the177.52 house177.68 chair.178
179.2 All179.2 written179.36 testimony179.68 received180.24 by180.56 the180.72 committee180.8 will181.2 be181.28 made181.44 publicly181.6 available182.08 at182.85 the183.01 discretion183.17 of183.66 the183.74 chairs,183.81 and184.13 per184.29 committee184.45 rules,184.85 limitations,185.25 and185.89 redactions186.13 shall187.01 exist187.25 for187.66 sharing187.81 testimony188.22 that189.09 includes189.25 sensitive189.74 personal190.29 information190.69 or191.66 information191.97 that192.53 may192.69 jeopardize192.85 the193.41 health,193.57 wellness,193.81 or194.29 safety194.45 of194.85 the194.94 testifier195.09 or195.74 others.195.97 Any196.94 person197.17 submitting197.5 written197.89 testimony198.3 may198.62 request199.02 such199.66 testimony199.98 remain200.62 private,200.94 and201.26 said201.5 testimony201.74 will202.3 not202.46 be202.62 made202.78 publicly203.02 available.203.9 When204.94 we205.18 conduct205.34 hearings,205.74 all206.22 members206.46 of206.78 the206.86 committee207.02 are207.34 expected207.5 to207.9 participate208.06 in208.7 person.208.94 Only209.74 the210.06 public210.14 and210.54 legislators210.78 who211.42 are211.58 not211.82 members212.14 of212.54 the212.85 committee212.94 may213.25 participate213.57 remotely.214.13 Please215.17 keep215.41 in215.57 mind215.74 that216.06 it216.22 is216.38 our216.53 policy216.69 to217.09 call217.17 elected217.5 officials217.81 out218.29 of218.45 turn.218.61 All219.33 other219.66 speakers219.81 will220.29 be220.38 called220.53 to220.78 testify220.94 in221.41 the221.57 order221.66 of221.89 the221.97 bills222.13 being222.45 heard.222.69 Speakers223.33 are223.66 asked223.81 to224.06 please224.13 limit224.53 your224.78 testimony225.01 to225.66 no225.81 more226.06 than226.22 three226.45 minutes.226.69 Staff227.57 will227.89 keep228.05 time228.29 with228.61 the228.85 timer228.93 and229.65 in229.89 the229.97 meeting230.13 chat.230.53
231.09 You231.09 will231.25 hear231.41 a231.57 timer231.73 go232.05 off232.21 after232.45 three232.61 minutes.232.85 So233.09 once233.33 you233.49 hear233.65 that233.81 alarm,234.05 please234.45 wrap234.85 up235.09 your235.17 testimony.235.41 I236.13 wanna236.29 emphasize236.61 again237.01 that237.33 testimony237.57 should238.13 be238.29 kept238.37 to238.61 three238.77 minutes239.09 max.239.81 If240.44 you240.6 have240.76 longer241 thoughts241.25 to241.49 share,241.65 you're241.89 always242.21 welcome242.53 to242.84 submit243 written243.32 testimony243.56 to244.04 the244.13 committee.244.28 And,244.93 again,245.09 staff245.41 will245.72 be245.89 keeping245.97 a246.28 timer246.37 that246.76 will,247 sound247.56 an247.81 alarm247.97 after248.37 three248.69 minutes.248.93 After249.72 each250.04 speaker,250.28 committee250.69 members250.93 will251.25 be251.41 given251.49 the251.72 chance251.89 to252.13 ask252.21 questions.252.44 I253.25 wanna253.41 thank253.73 LIS253.97 and254.45 the254.61 assistant254.77 sergeant255.17 at255.57 arms255.65 for255.97 facilitating256.21 this256.77 hybrid256.93 hearing,257.33 as257.81 well257.97 as258.13 committee258.29 staff258.61 for258.93 their259.01 diligent259.17 work.259.57 And260.21 finally,260.45 I260.85 wanna260.93 thank261.25 all261.49 those261.65 testifying261.89 today262.45 for262.77 your262.93 time263.09 and263.33 perspective263.49 on264.05 these264.29 critical264.53 issues.264.93 First272.09 up,272.32 I272.73 believe272.88 joining273.29 us273.52 remotely273.69 is274.09 Senator274.25 Commerford,274.56 who's,275.37 here275.85 to276.09 share276.17 her276.49 testimony.276.65
279.44 SEN279.44 COMERFORD279.44 -279.44 SB279.44 11279.44 -279.44 HB279.44 71279.44 -279.44 R279.44 -279.44 Thank279.44 you279.76 so280.17 much.280.4 Chair281.37 Madaro,282.25 Chair282.49 Eldridge,282.49 honorable283.15 members283.47 of283.95 the284.11 Revenue284.67 Committee.285.55 Thanks285.55 for285.87 hearing286.11 my286.35 testimony286.59 today287.23 remotely,287.71 and288.59 thank288.83 you288.99 for289.15 hearing289.31 this289.63 bill289.87 so290.11 early290.27 in290.51 the290.67 legislative290.83 session.291.47 I'm292.11 testifying292.35 in292.99 support293.15 of293.63 S293.79 11294.03 and294.83 H295.07 71.295.63 H296.44 71296.69 is297.25 filed297.49 by,297.81 the298.76 representative,299.88 the300.13 wonderful300.2 Representatives300.69 Blais301.4 and301.64 Kane.301.88 These303.25 are303.4 constitutional303.64 amendments304.44 relative304.93 to305.25 agricultural305.56 and306.37 horticultural306.6 lands.307.49 Protecting308.85 and309.49 valuing309.64 agricultural310.71 land311.11 is311.35 so311.51 important311.75 that312.07 it's312.31 written312.47 in312.71 our312.87 state's313.11 constitution.313.59 Article314.71 99315.27 of316.07 our316.23 constitution316.55 gives317.27 the317.59 legislature317.75 the318.55 power318.63 to319.03 tax319.19 ag320.15 land320.47 based320.95 on321.27 the321.43 value321.67 of322.55 the322.71 land322.87 for323.43 agricultural323.75 or324.39 horticultural324.63 purposes325.75 rather326.72 than327.04 commercial327.92 or328.4 residential328.63 land329.36 tax329.75 rates.330.07 The331.28 constitution331.44 protects332.24 agricultural332.8 land333.51 recognizing333.84 the334.48 benefits334.63 that335.12 agriculture335.28 brings336.24 to336.56 our336.72 local336.88 food337.19 system,337.36 economic337.84 development,338.31 and339.12 providing339.36 Massachusetts340.36 residents340.6 with341.08 nutritious341.32 local341.88 food.342.28 The343.8 constitution344.04 also344.76 recognizes345.24 that345.8 once346.04 farmland346.36 is346.84 lost347 to347.32 development,347.48 it347.96 doesn't348.12 return348.44 to349.24 farmland.349.4
349.4 This350.92 is351.24 quite351.4 relevant351.64 right352.2 now,352.36 unfortunately.352.6 In353.72 the353.88 last354.12 5-year354.84 agricultural355.24 census,356.14 we357.02 found357.26 that357.58 Massachusetts357.82 lost358.55 27,000359.11 acres361.5 of361.99 farmland,362.23 and363.11 I'm363.35 sure363.5 the363.75 chairs363.9 and364.23 committee364.31 agree,364.79 we365.11 cannot365.26 afford365.67 to365.99 lose366.14 more.366.46 But367.67 this368.32 is368.4 the368.64 problem.368.88 Our369.36 article370 99370.48 has371.12 an371.36 archaic371.6 limitation.372.08 Only373.2 farms373.6 of374 5374.16 acres374.56 or375.04 more375.2 are376.08 eligible376.24 for376.88 this377.12 tax377.28 treatment.377.6 This378.32 means378.56 that378.8 farmers379.04 often379.52 pay379.84 much380.16 higher380.4 commercial380.72 rates381.28 for381.6 farmland.381.84 This383.1 is383.18 now383.42 causing383.74 article384.21 99384.54 to385.1 have385.25 the385.34 opposite385.5 effective386.38 protecting386.94 farmland,387.42 and388.21 instead388.46 it's388.86 contributing389.1 to389.65 farmland389.9 loss390.46 ironically391.01 because392.13 of392.46 the392.62 high392.86 tax393.1 bills393.5 and393.9 the394.06 brutal394.21 downward394.69 economic395.18 pressure395.81 facing396.3 farms,396.69 which397.95 on398.19 average398.51 make398.99 only399.31 about399.55 94399.79 or400.35 95¢400.59 for401.55 every401.79 dollar402.03 they402.35 spend.402.59 And403.07 I'm403.31 sure403.47 the403.63 chairs403.79 agree404.11 this404.35 is404.59 an404.67 unworkable404.91 economic405.95 proposition.406.59 Urban407.95 farmers408.27 can't408.83 find409.31 parcels409.79 of410.38 land410.71 larger410.87 than411.35 5411.59 acres.411.82 New412.15 farmers,412.38 can't413.5 afford413.82 to414.23 purchase414.38 a414.87 large414.94 farm415.26 parcel,415.67 and416.31 even416.55 long-standing417.11 farms417.59 like417.99 Barstow's418.31 Longview419.19 Farm419.75 and419.99 Hadley420.23 are420.63 impeded.420.79 On421.67 Sunday,421.82 I422.23 visited422.38 with422.85 the423.01 Barstow423.09 family423.57 who424.05 had424.13 been424.29 farming424.53 this424.85 land425.01 since425.49 18425.89 o426.21 6,426.45 and427.09 what427.33 they've427.57 told427.97 me428.37 is429.09 that429.25 in429.89 order430.13 to,430.45 deal431.25 with431.57 high431.97 feed432.45 prices432.85 for433.25 their433.49 dairy433.73 cows,434.13 they434.85 are435.09 forced,435.41 to436.96 actually437.21 expand437.69 their438.17 acreage438.73 of439.37 growing439.61 hay.440
440.73 And440.73 on440.88 the441.05 2441.21 acres441.44 that441.85 they442 have442.25 to442.4 farm443.05 outside443.52 of444.81 their444.96 hundreds445.29 of445.69 acres445.85 of446.49 farmland,447.05 they447.69 pay448.1 more448.26 for448.5 those448.74 2448.98 acres449.22 than449.62 they449.78 do449.94 on450.1 all450.34 of450.5 the450.66 other450.82 acreage451.14 combined.451.7 So,452.82 and453.86 as454.18 you454.34 can454.5 understand,455.14 this455.78 is456.02 very456.18 difficult456.5 for456.9 a457.14 dairy457.22 farm,457.54 and458.02 we've458.26 seen458.66 such459.06 loss459.38 of459.62 dairy459.78 farms460.1 in460.5 the460.58 Commonwealth.460.74 So461.7 these461.94 bills462.18 eliminate462.68 the463 acreage463.31 requirement.463.79 So465 the465.39 5465.56 acre465.88 requirement466.44 in466.92 article467.07 99467.48 in468.04 the468.12 constitution,468.27 ensuring469 that469.56 state470.44 is470.75 really470.92 just471.31 simply471.63 taxing472.12 farmland472.6 as473.07 farmland.473.31 It474.12 was474.19 needed474.44 before474.75 now,475.15 but475.71 amid475.95 significant476.44 federal477 cuts477.48 to477.96 farms478.36 for478.76 their479.08 local479.32 food480.04 to480.36 school480.52 programs480.92 and481.32 their481.48 energy481.64 resilience482.04 efforts.482.6 This483.32 bill483.48 is483.72 absolutely484.2 critical,485 and485.72 we485.96 must486.28 allow486.6 farmland487 to487.56 simply487.72 be488.04 taxed488.2 as488.52 farmland488.6 regardless489.48 of490.12 the490.28 acreage.490.44 So,491.64 I492.21 am492.38 very492.54 grateful492.78 again493.1 to493.42 the493.57 revenue493.74 committee494.06 for494.46 advancing494.62 the495.25 bill495.42 last495.74 session.496.13 Thank496.54 you496.69 so497.01 much497.18 for497.42 hearing497.57 it497.9 early498.38 this498.78 session,499.01 and500.06 I500.3 respectfully500.46 urge501.25 a501.57 favorable501.74 report,502.38 and502.94 I'm503.1 grateful503.25 for503.74 this503.9 partnership503.98 with504.12 Representatives505.23 Kane505.95 and506.51 Representative506.83 Blais.507.47 Thank507.95 you508.11 so508.35 much,508.43 chairs.508.75
510.03 MADARO510.03 -510.03 Senator,510.03 thank510.43 you510.67 for510.75 joining510.91 for511.15 the511.31 purposes511.39 of511.79 sharing511.87 your512.19 testimony.512.43 Do512.99 we513.15 have513.31 any,513.79 questions514.43 from514.83 committee515.07 members?515.39 Senator?516.91 Great.517.95
518.19 ELDRIGE518.19 -518.19 Thank518.19 you,518.43 Mr518.83 Chairman.519.58 Thank519.58 you519.66 so519.75 much,519.82 Senator520.14 Comerford,520.54 and521.02 you've521.18 been521.42 a521.75 long-time522.14 champion522.46 for522.94 farms,523.75 both524.46 in524.7 your524.87 district524.94 and525.35 across525.5 the525.82 state.525.99 I526.7 just526.87 wanted527.02 to527.26 ask527.42 in527.58 addition527.75 to528.14 your528.23 testimony,528.46 I529.02 believe529.18 that529.5 you529.66 are529.75 co-chairing529.99 the530.54 21st531.02 century531.26 farm532.14 commission.532.46 And532.88 I'm532.96 just533.2 wondering533.28 if533.68 you533.84 could534 I534.4 think534.48 with,534.72 speaker535.28 Pro535.6 Tem535.84 Pro536.08 Tem536.36 Hogan,536.64 if537.28 you537.44 could537.6 tell537.68 us537.92 the538.16 status538.32 and538.72 timeline539.2 for539.68 when539.84 that540.08 commission540.24 report540.64 will540.88 be541.04 done.541.2
542.64 COMERFORD542.64 -542.64 Thank542.64 you542.8 so542.96 much,543.12 Senator543.36 Eldridge,543.76 for544.16 that544.32 question.544.56 We545.92 are546.24 hoping,546.48 to547.59 have547.83 a548.07 report548.3 out548.71 by548.87 this549.11 spring,549.5 and550.54 this550.95 issue551.26 was552.14 raised552.54 as553.11 part553.42 of553.83 the554.14 testimony554.3 we554.95 heard.555.11 The556.38 commission556.63 is557.02 not557.18 necessarily557.5 focusing558.14 on558.87 the559.02 constitutional559.26 amendment,560.07 but560.38 the560.63 economic560.87 pressures561.5 and561.54 the561.57 complexity561.6 facing561.63 farmers561.66 and561.9 the562.68 complexity563.16 facing563.56 farmers563.88 and564.68 farmland564.92 actually565.96 caused566.36 the566.68 legislature566.84 to567.48 gavel567.64 in567.96 this568.2 commission568.44 to569 stand569.16 it569.32 up.569.48 And569.64 thank569.96 you570.2 to570.36 the570.52 speaker570.6 pro571 tem571.16 for571.32 leading.571.56 And572.76 it's573 all573.48 about573.72 how574.89 we575.13 as575.29 a575.62 Commonwealth575.77 protect576.5 farmers,576.98 which578.01 are,578.41 as579.05 you579.22 know,579.38 facing579.77 critical,580.34 critical580.89 economic581.53 hurdles,582.1 now583.62 and584.01 certainly584.34 into584.82 the585.05 future.585.22
586.5 ELDRIGE586.5 -586.5 Thank586.5 you586.74 very586.91 much.587.07
587.31 COMERFORD587.31 -587.31 So587.31 hopefully587.55 this587.95 spring.588.11 That's588.43 what588.59 we're588.75 going588.91 for,589.15 Senator.589.39
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE

596.75 REP596.75 PAULINO596.75 -596.75 I596.75 know596.91 about597.15 supporting597.47 farmers,597.95 but598.51 but598.99 what599.31 I599.47 worry599.63 is,600.03 do600.75 we600.99 have601.07 any601.38 type601.55 of601.79 idea602.43 how602.75 we're602.9 gonna603.07 regulate?603.38 Like,603.79 do604.75 we604.99 have605.14 a605.38 process605.47 of605.87 certifying606.5 if607.47 a608.02 property608.18 owner608.75 can610.02 go610.35 and610.59 certify610.75 that611.3 what611.55 he611.71 will611.87 be612.11 doing612.26 really612.5 is612.83 farming,613.07 or613.88 he's614.04 just614.28 not614.52 pretending614.76 to615.24 own615.48 a615.64 farm615.72 in616.44 order616.6 to616.84 say,617.48 okay.617.8 I618.36 own618.92 a619.16 farm619.24 just620.2 to620.44 pay621.48 less621.72 property622.2 taxes.622.68 So623.4 are625.16 we625.24 including625.4 some626.04 type626.2 of626.44 certification?626.76 Like,627.48 he627.72 go627.88 to628.12 the628.28 Farmers629.22 Bureau629.7 or630.01 something630.17 like630.58 that.630.74 Because,631.22 like,632.5 we632.89 wanna633.13 help633.46 farmers,633.62 but634.01 we634.17 also634.34 wanna634.65 make635.22 sure635.46 municipalities636.25 can637.05 collect637.29 revenue638.17 have638.65 the638.89 revenue638.98 they639.46 need639.62 to639.86 go641.31 through641.55 business.641.79 So642.19 can643.07 you643.31 do643.71 you643.87 have644.03 any644.19 information644.43 how644.91 we're645.07 gonna645.15 go645.39 through,645.47 how645.71 we're645.87 gonna646.03 fiscalize646.67 this?647.39 If648.35 this649.31 pass,649.55 how649.95 we're650.11 gonna650.27 make650.51 sure650.67 we651.39 we651.55 don't651.79 pass652.67 this652.91 law653.15 and653.53 then653.77 it's654.05 abused?654.33
659.93 COMERFORD659.93 -659.93 Thank659.93 you660.17 so660.25 much660.41 for660.58 that660.89 important,661.05 Janae.661.86
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE

673.94 COMERFORD673.94 -673.94 Department673.94 of674.42 Agriculture674.66 Resources675.22 for675.78 weighing676.1 in676.5 on677.22 this.677.46 We678.18 have678.5 to678.82 do678.98 such679.3 verifications,679.7 for681.54 other681.86 protect682.25 land682.74 protection.682.98 You684.5 know,684.65 so684.98 APR685.22 land,685.62 for685.93 example.686.1 And687.05 so687.29 we687.62 are687.86 able688.1 to,688.58 have689.38 processes689.62 in690.17 the690.34 state690.5 that690.82 will690.98 allow691.22 us691.62 to692.5 say692.98 that693.22 the693.46 farmland693.7 that's694.34 being694.65 used694.89 as695.22 farmland,695.38 is696.97 such697.13 and697.69 not697.93 something698.25 else.698.49 And699.29 the699.45 legislature699.61 has700.33 been700.57 good700.73 and700.97 diligent701.13 on701.69 these701.93 questions,702.17 and702.57 I702.73 appreciate702.89 yours.703.45 Thanks.704.89
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SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE

766.3 REBECCA766.3 MILLER766.3 -766.3 MASS766.86 FOOD766.86 SYSTEM766.86 COLLABORATIVE766.86 -766.86 SB766.86 11766.86 -766.86 HB766.86 71766.86 -766.86 Well766.86 good766.86 afternoon,767.02 Chair768.41 Madaro,768.65 Chair768.65 Eldridge,768.65 members769.05 of769.38 the769.45 committee.769.53 It's769.86 great770.01 to770.17 be770.25 with770.41 you.770.58 Thank770.82 you770.98 for,771.13 scheduling772.17 this772.65 so772.89 promptly.773.05 I773.45 think773.62 this773.77 is774.01 my774.1 first774.17 official774.5 hearing774.82 that775.13 I'm775.29 testifying775.45 at775.77 this775.93 session.776.1 I'm776.33 really776.5 excited776.65 to776.98 be777.13 here,777.29 especially,777.7 of778.17 course,778.25 after778.5 Senator778.74 Jo779.13 Comerford,779.29 who779.7 I779.86 pretty780.1 much780.33 just780.58 always780.74 end780.98 up781.13 saying,781.21 like,781.45 big781.77 plus781.85 one782.09 to782.25 after782.65 I782.89 testify.783.05 I'm784.33 representing784.65 the785.13 Massachusetts785.21 Food785.77 System786.01 Collaborative786.25 where786.81 I'm786.97 the787.13 policy787.29 director.787.69 We788.17 support788.41 collective788.81 action789.29 towards789.69 a789.93 sustainable,790.17 resilient,790.73 equitable791.21 local791.69 food791.93 system792.17 through792.57 advocacy793.37 campaigns793.85 and794.33 networks794.49 support799.6 communities800.08 of800.08 practice,800.08 of800.08 farmers800.08 food800.08 system800.08 stakeholders.800.08 Farming800.08 assistance800.08 organizations.800.63 And802.08 so802.24 we're802.39 in802.56 support802.72 of803.04 Senate803.51 Bill803.68 11803.68 and804 house804.08 71,804.39 as804.88 you804.96 know,805.2 sponsored805.75 by806.24 Senator806.72 Comerford807.2 and807.2 reps807.36 Blaine808.08 Kane.808.39 As809.68 Senator811.17 Comerford811.65 mentioned,811.65 this811.89 is812.13 both812.29 a812.61 rural812.69 issue,813.17 a813.65 suburban813.89 issue,814.37 and814.69 an814.85 urban815.01 issue.815.33 There815.57 is815.89 a816.21 farm,816.37 for816.69 example,816.77 in817.09 Suffolk817.25 County817.73 that818.05 is818.21 not818.93 structured819.25 as819.65 a819.73 nonprofit,819.81 structured820.45 as821.01 a821.17 commercial821.33 business821.73 that822.05 is822.21 subject822.37 to822.77 the822.85 commercial823.01 tax823.33 rate,823.65 not823.81 the824.05 ag824.21 tax824.37 rate.824.61
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SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE

986.79 MADARO986.79 -986.79 Thank986.79 you986.87 for986.95 your987.02 time.987.18 And990.18 at990.5 perfect990.66 timing,990.98 we991.78 will992.02 now992.18 hear992.5 up992.74 the993.06 last993.22 person993.54 who994.02 is,994.26 signed994.74 to994.98 testify995.22 today,995.62 Representative996.1 Natalie996.66 Blais,997.06 who997.38 is997.54 here997.7 to997.86 also997.94 testify998.26 on998.66 H998.82 71.999.06 Welcome,1000.18 representative.1000.58
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1079.6 We1079.6 know1079.76 that1079.91 Massachusetts1080.15 has1080.71 the1080.95 second1081.04 highest1081.43 farmland1081.84 value1082.39 in1082.8 the1082.88 country,1083.04 and1083.76 the1083.91 third1084.08 highest1084.39 home1085.12 values1085.43 in1085.84 the1085.91 nation.1086.08 This1086.88 puts1087.12 farmland1087.36 out1087.99 of1088.15 reach1088.32 for1088.88 a1089.12 number1089.28 of1089.6 farmers,1089.76 and1090.63 that1090.88 5-acre1091.6 restriction1091.91 really1093.17 limits1093.41 the1093.81 ability1093.97 of1094.37 new1094.61 farmers1094.85 to1095.49 come1095.57 into1095.81 this1096.13 field.1096.37 Massachusetts1097.89 also1098.61 has1098.85 an1099.01 age1099.17 demographic1099.41 where1100.29 75%1100.61 of1101.57 farmers1101.73 are1102.37 651102.61 or1103.49 older.1103.73 And1105.25 finally,1105.65 of1106.05 course,1106.21 as1106.45 we1106.61 saw1106.77 in1107.01 2023,1107.25 we1108.39 know1108.63 that1108.8 farmers1109.04 are1109.52 facing1109.76 the1110.56 real1110.72 threat1111.04 of1111.6 climate1111.84 change1112.23 on1112.8 a1112.96 day-to-day1113.43 basis.1113.6 The1114.96 uncertainty1115.2 that1115.91 they1116.08 are1116.23 facing1116.39 daily1117.04 is1117.84 nothing1118.08 compared1118.48 to1119.12 the1119.28 uncertainty1119.43 that1119.99 they1120.15 are1120.32 facing1120.48 in1121.36 terms1121.52 of1121.76 cuts1122 and1122.4 freezes1122.48 that1123.36 we1123.68 are1123.84 seeing1124 from1124.24 the1124.4 federal1124.56 government1124.96 right1125.36 now.1125.52 So1126 if1126.16 there1126.24 was1126.4 ever1126.64 a1126.96 time1127.12 for1127.52 Massachusetts1127.76 to1128.64 step1128.8 up1129.12 and1129.92 say1130.08 that1131.68 we1132 believe1132.16 in1132.48 our1132.72 farmers,1132.88 we1133.84 believe1134.08 in1134.64 the1134.88 local1134.96 food1135.36 system,1135.68 that1136.32 we1136.56 have1136.72 fought1137.37 to1138.4 strengthen1138.73 and1139.37 build1139.61 over1140.64 the1140.88 last1141.05 decade1142.09 or1142.57 more.1142.81 This1143.92 is1144.16 really1144.33 the1144.64 time1144.73 to1144.97 do1145.13 it.1145.29 It's1145.68 especially1146.09 important1146.48 to1146.88 note,1147.05 as1147.29 I'm1147.45 sure1147.68 Senator1148.33 Comerford1148.73 pointed1149.37 out,1149.68 that1150.33 our1150.57 farmers1150.73 make1151.13 95¢1151.53 on1152.4 the1152.57 dollar.1152.73 951154.46 cents1155.02 on1155.58 the1155.82 dollar.1155.9 Despite1157.26 that,1157.9 they1158.94 are1159.26 working1159.5 every1160.22 single1160.54 day1160.86 to1161.66 provide1161.82 local,1162.38 fresh,1163.02 healthy1163.5 food1163.9 to1164.3 sustain1164.46 us.1164.94
1165.66 And1165.66 when1165.9 they1166.06 have1166.22 too1166.46 much,1166.7 they're1167.49 donating1167.73 to1168.38 our1168.54 local1168.78 food1169.1 pantries,1169.26 to1170.06 our1170.21 local1170.38 food1170.69 banks.1170.93 They1171.97 are1172.13 there1172.3 for1172.54 us.1172.78 They1173.17 were1173.41 there1173.58 for1173.73 us1173.97 during1174.06 COVID1174.38 when1175.02 our1175.26 local1175.49 food1175.82 systems1176.06 shut1176.69 well,1177.02 when1177.26 the1177.49 food1177.65 system1177.89 in1178.54 New1178.69 England1178.86 shut1179.34 down.1179.58 Our1180.06 local1180.3 farmers1180.62 were1180.93 there1181.17 for1181.34 us.1181.49 There's1182.44 only1182.68 so1182.92 much1183.08 that1183.24 we1183.48 can1183.56 do1183.8 for1183.96 them,1184.12 and1184.6 this1184.84 is1185.08 one1185.24 very1185.72 concrete1186.04 step1186.52 that1187 we1187.24 can1187.32 take1187.48 in1187.64 the1187.8 Commonwealth.1187.88 It1188.84 is1189 important1189.16 to1189.56 note1189.72 that1189.88 30%1190.2 of1191.4 the1191.64 farms1191.8 in1192.76 the1192.92 Commonwealth1193.08 are1193.96 under1194.2 nine1194.52 acres.1194.76 So1195.72 this1195.96 would1196.2 make1196.44 a1196.77 significant1196.92 difference1197.57 in1198.2 helping1198.44 to1198.85 support1199.01 our1199.72 local1199.96 food1200.29 systems1200.53 at1201.33 this1201.4 critical1201.72 time.1202.13 Believe1203.09 it1203.4 or1203.48 not,1203.64 this1203.88 provision1204.05 is1204.44 older1204.61 than1204.85 I1205.01 am.1205.16 I1206.13 like1206.29 to1206.53 think1206.68 that1207.24 we1207.57 can1207.72 change1207.96 with1208.29 the1208.53 times.1208.68 And1210.02 as1210.26 I1210.42 said,1210.58 there's1210.82 never1211.14 been1211.46 a1211.78 more1211.94 important1212.26 time1212.74 for1213.3 us1213.54 to1213.78 stand1213.94 up1214.18 for1214.42 what1214.66 Massachusetts1214.82 believes1215.46 in,1215.86 to1216.18 stand1216.42 up1216.66 for1216.9 our1217.06 farmers,1217.22 and1217.86 to1218.02 support1218.18 our1218.5 local1218.66 food1218.9 systems.1219.14 I1219.78 respectfully1219.94 ask1220.42 that1220.66 you1220.82 report1220.98 this1221.22 bill1221.38 out1221.54 favorably,1221.7 and1222.18 really1222.42 appreciate1222.66 your1223.06 support.1223.22 Happy1223.62 to1223.94 answer1224.02 any1224.34 questions1224.58 that1224.73 you1224.86 have,1224.97 and1225.54 thanks1225.78 for1226.1 the1226.17 timing1226.34 so1227.3 I1227.45 could1227.54 just1227.69 roll1227.93 right1228.17 in1228.41 out1228.89 of1229.13 breath1229.3 to1229.62 present1229.78 this1230.1 testimony1230.34 to1230.89 you.1231.06
1231.38 MADARO1231.38 -1231.38 Representative,1231.38 thank1232.17 you1232.34 for1232.49 making1232.82 it1233.13 to1233.38 testify1233.54 in1234.02 person,1234.1 and1234.41 thank1234.65 you1234.82 for1234.97 being1235.13 such1235.38 a1235.62 long1235.69 standing1236.1 champion1236.58 for1237.13 farmers1237.3 across1238.52 the1238.76 continent.1238.84
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SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE

1249.24 MADARO1249.24 -1249.24 Is1249.24 anyone1249.4 here1249.8 to1249.96 testify1250.12 that1250.52 did1250.86 not1251.02 have1251.17 a1251.22 chance1251.26 to1251.73 sign1251.82 up?1251.97 Okay.1255.1 On1257.17 that1257.41 case,1257.65 thank1258.06 you1258.3 all1258.54 for1258.7 being1258.93 here.1259.17 Do1260.48 we1260.72 have1260.8 a1261.04 motion1261.12 to1261.36 adjourn?1261.6
1262 REP1262 LINSKY1262 -1262 So1262 motion1262.24 to1262.64 adjourn.1262.72
1263.52 MADARO1263.52 -1263.52 Alright.1263.52 So1263.84 moved.1264.08 Thank1265.28 you.1265.52