An Act to Address Food Insecurity by Helping Maine Residents Access Locally Produced Food
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2093
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: INGWERSEN, HALL, DAUGHTRY, HICKMAN, JACKSON, PIERCE, HEPLER, OSHER, PLUECKER, STOVER

Legislative Document
No. 2093
S.P. 886
In Senate, January 3, 2024
An Act to Address Food Insecurity by Helping Maine Residents 
Access Locally Produced Food
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator INGWERSEN of York.
Cosponsored by Representative HALL of Wilton and
Senators: DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, HICKMAN of Kennebec, President JACKSON of 
Aroostook, PIERCE of Cumberland, Representatives: HEPLER of Woolwich, OSHER of 
Orono, PLUECKER of Warren, STOVER of Boothbay.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, Public Law 2023, chapter 412 provided one-time funding to capitalize the 
Fund To Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutrition Incentives, which provides 
incentives to federal food and nutrition assistance program participants for the purchase of 
locally grown fruits and vegetables; and
Whereas, this legislation provides ongoing funding and increases the annual 
appropriation to the fund and must be in effect before the expiration of the 90-day period 
to ensure that program participants can access this vital assistance; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
Fund To Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutrition Incentives Z329
Initiative: Deappropriates one-time funding provided in Public Law 2023, chapter 412.
GENERAL FUND
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$0
($600,000)
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
($600,000)
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
Fund To Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutrition Incentives Z329
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding to the Fund To Address Food Insecurity and Provide 
Nutrition Incentives to be used to match contributions from private and public sources.
GENERAL FUND
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$600,000
$1,200,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$600,000
$1,200,000
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
Public Law 2023, chapter 412 appropriated $600,000 in one-time funds for each of the 
2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years to the Fund To Address Food Insecurity and Provide 
Nutrition Incentives.  This bill instead provides ongoing funding of $1,200,000 per fiscal 
year to the fund to be used to match contributions from private and public sources.