Committee approves amendment to H.167 to create Vermonters Feeding Vermonters grant, recommends $2 million appropriation

The Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, & Forestry on an 8-0 roll-call vote amended H.167 and voted to recommend the bill as amended. The bill would create a “Vermonters Feeding Vermonters” grant program at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and appropriate $2,000,000 from the general fund to support purchases of local food for distribution through food bank channels and to offer subgrants to food‑bank network partners.

The program is intended to let the agency or the Vermont Food Bank buy local food directly from Vermont farms for distribution through the food bank’s network and to make subgrants to network partners so they can buy directly from local farms. The committee approved language changing several references in the draft so subgrants and purchases are available from “local farms of all sizes” rather than being limited to “small local farms.”

Why it matters: supporters said the program aims to create a steady, centrally funded mechanism—rather than repeated one‑off requests to the legislature—so the agency or the food bank can annually incorporate local purchasing into budget planning and food distribution.

Key changes and details - Appropriation: The bill, as amended in draft 1.1, proposes an appropriation of $2,000,000 from the general fund to the Agency of Agriculture in addition to whatever is included in the agency’s regular budget request for the year. The appropriation language in the draft directs that funds may be passed through to the Vermont Food Bank for purchasing local food or used by the agency to distribute directly.

- Subgrant and sourcing language: Committee members removed the size‑based restriction on farms. The amended text directs subgrants to food bank network partners to buy directly from “local farms of all sizes” and allows a range of agricultural commodities and products to be purchased.

- Reporting: The bill’s reporting requirement was revised so that the Vermont Food Bank will produce the report (after consultation with the agency) instead of the secretary of agriculture producing the report directly.

- Administration funding: The appropriation text includes an administrative allowance of up to $67,500 (about one‑half full‑time equivalent) to support program administration at the agency.

Clarifications from the meeting - Definition of local: Representative O’Brien said the statutory reference is to Title 9 and commented, “It will be that Title 9 definition. It will mean within the state.”

- Appropriations process: Committee members and staff emphasized that the program’s ongoing funding would depend on the annual budget process; the administration will recommend a budget number each year, and the committee said it would have to be “diligent” if the administration omitted or reduced a line item in future budgets.

Votes and procedural steps - Motion to amend H.167 with draft 1.1: passed on roll call, 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain (yes: Representative Bosland; Rep. Burt; Rep. Linsky; Rep. Morgan; Rep. Nelson; Rep. O’Brien; Rep. Supernaught; Rep. Durfee). The motion was seconded (credit given to Representative Nelson for seconding).

- Motion to recommend H.167 as amended (committee bill process): passed on roll call, 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. The committee chair instructed that a clean copy of draft 1.1 be sent to legislative drafting operations so the document can receive a bill number and be forwarded to the Appropriations Committee.

Other actions and directions - The committee named Representative Bosland to ensure draft 1.1 is sent to the clerk and asked that a clean, non‑highlighted copy be emailed to committee staff and the clerk by the end of the day.

What the committee did not decide - The committee did not appropriate funds at this meeting; it recommended the bill as a committee bill and approved language and an appropriation amount in the bill text. Final appropriation and implementation depend on subsequent action by Appropriations and the Legislature and on future executive budget recommendations.

Next steps - The bill, if introduced by the clerk as a committee bill, will be referred to the Appropriations Committee and may be scheduled for consideration there. The committee indicated it expects the appropriation and program to be part of the agency’s budget conversations going forward.