An Act to Strengthen Maine's Agriculture, Food and Forest Economy by Funding the Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund and Amending Related Provisions of Law
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1670
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, BLACK, FAY, GUERRETTE, HALL, PLUECKER, HICKMAN, INGWERSEN
Amends: 7 MRSA §320-C

Legislative Document
No. 1670
H.P. 1068
House of Representatives, April 13, 2023
An Act to Strengthen Maine's Agriculture, Food and Forest 
Economy by Funding the Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest 
Products Investment Fund and Amending Related Provisions of 
Law
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator BLACK of Franklin and
Representatives: FAY of Raymond, GUERRETTE of Caribou, HALL of Wilton, PLUECKER 
of Warren, Senators: HICKMAN of Kennebec, INGWERSEN of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §320-C, sub-§6, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 483, Pt. KK, §2, 
is amended by amending subparagraph (2) to read:
(2)  Recommending program changes and improvements; and
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA §320-C, sub-§6, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 483, Pt. KK, §2, 
is amended by amending subparagraph (3) to read:
(3)  Preparing a comprehensive report, in collaboration with the Department of 
Economic and Community Development and other appropriate agencies and 
organizational partners, on the performance, use and sustainability of funds and 
supporting programs of the Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products 
Investment Fund to submit to the commissioner.; and
Sec. 3.  7 MRSA §320-C, sub-§6, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 483, Pt. KK, §2, 
is amended by enacting subparagraph (4) to read:
(4)  Collaborating with the Department of Economic and Community Development 
and other appropriate agencies and organizational partners to ensure that 
investment objectives are appropriately targeted and not duplicative and to 
establish various grant and loan instruments as part of the fund.
Sec. 4.  Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to establish 
positions.  The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall establish 2 
positions within the department to support program design and annual implementation of 
the Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 7, chapter 10-C and coordination of technical assistance relating to 
the fund.
Sec. 5.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund  N383
Initiative: Provides funding to support public-private partnerships to facilitate strategic 
investments in the State's agricultural, food and forest products processing and 
manufacturing industries.
GENERAL FUND
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$20,000,000
$20,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$20,000,000
$20,000,000
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Maine Agriculture, Food System and Forest Products 
Infrastructure Investment Advisory Board within the Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry to collaborate with the Department of Economic and 
Community Development and other appropriate agencies and organizational partners to 
ensure that investment objectives are appropriately targeted and not duplicative and to 
establish various grant and loan instruments as part of the Maine Agriculture, Food and 
Forest Products Investment Fund.  It appropriates $20,000,000 per fiscal year to the fund.  
It directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to establish 2 positions 
within the department.