Maine Food Policy News #1 Feb 12 2021

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Food Policy Work is Underway in the Maine Legislature Over 2000 bills were submitted to the 130th Maine Legislature in December, with 100 bills related to food, farming and related issues like climate, equity and education. The Maine Food Policy Work Group is gearing up to research, monitor, prioritize and advocate for Good Food Policy during this session. This News will share ways that you can support this work. How Bills Move Forward - Initial Steps: Bills were submitted by Legislators by Dec. 18th, 2020. Bills are edited in the Revisor's Office and then published with a Bill # Published Bills are submitted to Committees for review, hearings, edits and decisions about supporting or not. Bills get sent to floor of the House and Senate for further action. Timeframe: Most of the 100 bills we are monitoring have not yet come out of the Revisor's office, so we can't track them very well yet. This Food Bill List shows original title and our priority rating, as LD Bill #s are published we will be able to track them as they move through the process. What Can We Do Now:: Join the Maine Food Convergence, that starts next Monday, Feb. 15th since the Convergence Tracks will include discussion of Good Food Policies. Sign up to get Alerts from Legislative Committees. For example this link allows you to sign up for the mailing list for the Agriculture, Forestry & Conservation Committee We'll aim to start getting this news out much more often with alerts for Bill status, hearings, etc.

Register for the Maine Food Convergence!

From Farm & Sea Track How can we expand local procurement to meet the capacity and consistent demands of these markets? How can we afford not to? Join us Tuesdays 10am-1pm Farming & Fishing Track As an unstable climate and resource depletion jeopardize the global food supply, meeting our food needs locally will be critical to a sustainable food future for Maine. Join us Wednesdays 2-5pm Healthy Food Track With thousands of Mainers experiencing food insecurity, what partnerships, policy, or advocacy can break down the barriers to healthy food for all? Join us Thursdays 4-7pm

Featured Hunger, Students, & School Bills LD 174: An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Ending Hunger by 2030 Advisory Group. This bill proposes to implement the recommendations of the advisory group assembled pursuant to Resolve 2019, chapter 32 to end hunger in Maine by 2030. Rep. Bill Pluecker, Sponsor. Cosponsored by Senator MAXMIN, C. of Lincoln, Representative LANDRY, S. of Farmington, Representative MCCREA, D. of Fort Fairfield, Representative O'NEIL, M. of Saco.Work Session before Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, 10:30am Feb. 16th. LD262:"An Act To Combat Hunger by Creating a Tax Credit of 10 Percent of Wholesale Market Prices up to $5,000 Annually for Businesses Engaged in Food Production for Donations of Food to Tax-exempt Organizations" Sponsored by Representative Tiffany Roberts Cosponsors: Rep. COLLINGS of Portland, Sen. DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, Rep. HALL of Wilton. Rep. MATLACK of St. George, Sen. MAXMIN of Lincoln, Rep. McDONALD of Stonington , Rep. MEYER of Eliot , Rep. PLUECKER of Warren , Rep. TERRY of Gorham  Referred to Committee on Taxation The Bills below were introduced with key support from Full Plates Full Potential that works to break down the barriers to food access that often exist in schools by empowering them to change the way they serve their meals and making food more accessible to hungry kids. Check back on the list linked above to find the LD# once it is published. An Act To Address Student Hunger through a Universal Free School Meals Program The State of Maine would contribute funding to cover the cost of paid students in the School Breakfast and National School Lunch programs, so that all students in Maine can access school meal programs without cost. Pres. Troy Jackson.sponsor An Act to Encourage the Purchase of Local Foods for Public Schools Expand the Local Produce Fund Program to allow schools to source local food via other sources, instead of only directly from farms. Increase the cap on reimbursement from DOE to encourage more local purchasing. Expand the options beyond produce to include other local foods. Sen. Eloise Vitelli, sponsor LD 362: Resolve, To Require the Department of Education To Form a Family Income Data Collection Working Group Convene a legislative work group to examine alternative ways for schools to collect income data from families. Rep. Michael Brennan, sponsor An Act To Provide Equity in Access to Applications for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Create a statewide school meal benefit online application, housed on the Department of Education’s website, so families can easily apply for school meals online. The data submitted via the application would not be visible to the Department of Education, but would be transferred directly to local districts. Sen. Eloise Vitelli, sponsor An Act To Require at Least a 30-minute Lunch Period for Students Require Maine schools to allow at least 30 minutes seated time for National School Lunch Program Rep. Jan Dodge, sponsor

The National Farm to School Network will hold two state farm to school policy roundtables: February 16 Roundtable Register Here March 5 Roundtable Register Here NFSN will also host a Federal Policy Roundtable on March 2nd; Register Here

Food Solutions New England The Time is Now: Assessing the evolving landscape for New England's Food Future

This is the recording of FSNE's policy discussion that occurred on December 16, 2020 with special guests: Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation, & Forestry, Amanda Beal Young Farmers Policy Associate, Vanessa Garcia Polanco

For more information, contact Ken Morse, Coordinator of the Maine Food Policy Work Group

The Maine Food Policy Work Group is a collaboration of organizations and people working to promote good food policies in Maine. It was started by Maine Farm to Institution (MEFTI), with support from the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA) is the fiscal and staffing home of the Maine Food Policy Work Group. HCCA's mission is to convene and support people, organizations, and communities to collaborate on quality of life and public health issues