Massachusetts S 2404: An Act promoting healthy soils for reducing greenhouse gases and the effects of climate change in the commonwealth

Bill Text

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2404 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court 
(2019-2020) 
_______________ 
 
 
Senate, November 14, 2019 
 The committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, to whom was 
referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 438) of Joanne M. Comerford, Brian M. 
Ashe, John Barrett, III, Natalie M. Blais and other members of the General Court for legislation 
to promote healthy soils and agricultural innovation within the Commonwealth and 
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 873) of Paul A. Schmid, III, Joanne M. Comerford and others 
for legislation to promote healthy soils and agricultural innovation,- reports the accompanying 
bill (Senate, No. 2404). 
 
For the committee, 
 Anne M.Gobi 
  

 
SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2404 
 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court 
(2019-2020) 
_______________
 
 
An Act promoting healthy soils for reducing greenhouse gases and the effects of climate change 
in the commonwealth. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows: 
 
1 SECTION 1. Subsection (a) of section 6C of chapter 20 of the General Laws, as 
2appearing in the  2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the figure 
3“17” and inserting in its place thereof the following figure:- 18.  
4 SECTION 2. Said subsection (a) of said section 6C of said chapter 20, as so appearing, is 
5hereby further amended by striking out, in line 17, the word “designee;”, and inserting in place 
6thereof the following words:- designee; 1 of whom shall be an expert in healthy soils practices as 
7defined in section 7A of chapter 128, appointed by the secretary of energy and environmental 
8affairs. 
9 SECTION 3. Subsection (d) of said section 6C of said chapter 20, as so appearing, is 
10hereby further amended in clause (A) of paragraph (1) by striking out, in line 58, the word 
11“foods;”, and inserting in place thereof , the following words:- foods, particularly those foods 
12produced using healthy soils practices as defined in section 7A of chapter 128. 

 
13 SECTION 4.  Said subsection (d) of said section 6C of said chapter 20, as so appearing, 
14is hereby further amended in clause (C) of said paragraph (1) by striking out, in line 70, the word 
15“production;” and inserting in place thereof, the following words:- production, particularly 
16through practices which promote healthy soils as defined in section 7A of  chapter 128. 
17 SECTION 5.  Section 20 of chapter 21 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 
18Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding  after paragraph 14 the following 2 paragraphs:- 
19 (15) To assist in the development of  a healthy soils program, as instructed by the 
20director, to: (i) improve soil quality on lands utilized for commercial farming; suburban and 
21urban lawns, yards and gardens; public and private forests, parks and other open or green spaces; 
22and non-paved outdoor areas of office complexes, mixed use facilities, businesses, industries, 
23and colleges and other institutions; (ii) increase carbon sequestration or storage on such lands, to 
24help reduce harmful atmospheric greenhouse gases and the effects of climate change; and (iii) 
25provide other measurable benefits, determined as applicable under the program to certain types 
26of lands, related to climate change, plant growth, erosion control and water absorption and 
27quality. The commission in the development of the program or any significant change to the 
28established program if requested by the director, shall consult with 1 or more of the following 
29organizations, as appropriate for the type of land intended to be covered under program: the 
30department of agricultural resources, department of environmental protection, department of fish 
31and game, The Nature Conservancy, Massachusetts Forest Alliance, Massachusetts Association 
32of Conservation Districts, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, United States Department of 
33Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Services, Massachusetts chapter of the Northeast 
34Organic Farming Association, University of Massachusetts Extension, Amherst, and any 
35individual or other organization designated by the director. 

 
36 (16) To encourage and promote the use of healthy soils policies and practices by private 
37and public landowners, including commercial farmers, and any assistance available to program 
38participants, which may consist of grants, technical assistance or education on the benefits and 
39implementation of health soils best practices, as the director may instruct, to achieve the 
40purposes of the healthy soils program.     
41 SECTION 6. Chapter 29 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 O