An Act addressing the impact of climate change on farms and fisheries

This bill establishes a new state fund called the Agriculture and Fishery Vulnerability Preparedness Grant Fund to help farms and fisheries in Massachusetts prepare for climate change. Administered by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs with input from agricultural and fisheries officials, the fund will be financed through state appropriations, interest, and public or private donations. It provides grants to support specific climate adaptation projects, such as controlled growing, renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, and data monitoring, while ensuring that funding is distributed proportionally across eligible sectors. The bill also requires the administrator to create rules for the program and submit quarterly reports detailing applicants, recipients, and how the money is spent.