Creating a Small Farm Diversity grant program, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to create a Small Farm Diversity grant program, under which DATCP may award grants of up to $50,000 to 1) a new agricultural producer to fund start-up costs for a new agricultural operation that will be conducted on 50 acres or less of land; 2) an existing agricultural producer to fund costs for adding a new agricultural product or increasing production of an agricultural product as part of an agricultural operation that is conducted on 50 acres or less of land; or 3) an existing agricultural producer, for the purpose of reducing existing equipment debt, if the producer has added a new agricultural product or increased production of an agricultural product as part of an agricultural operation that is conducted on 50 acres or less of land. The bill appropriates $500,000 in general purpose revenue biennially for this purpose.

The bill also requires a grant recipient to provide equal matching funds for its operations and outlines certain reporting requirements the recipient must follow during the three years after receiving a grant. Under the bill, if a grant recipient does not use the grant funds for the purpose for which the grant is made, fails to submit required information, or falsifies information submitted, the recipient must repay the grant funds to the extent directed by DATCP.

Who's behind it

8 senators are its authors⁠. All 8 are Democrats.

24 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.