An Act To Amend The Laws Governing The Maine Agriculture, Food System And Forest Products Infrastructure Investment Advisory Board

LD 1252 amends the rules for distributing funds from the Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund, which supports infrastructure for local producers. It restricts disbursements to producers who operate or plan to establish a processing or manufacturing facility in Maine, requiring funds to be used for equipment, supply chain improvements, and operations at that Maine facility. Recipients must also source agricultural, food, or forest products from within Maine (or offshore waters collected in Maine) to the extent practicable. Additionally, the bill requires advisory board members to recuse themselves from votes if they or their immediate family have a direct financial interest in an enterprise benefiting from a fund allocation.