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Minnesota House passes agriculture finance bill funding local food, avian-influenza response and farm supports
Summary
The Minnesota House approved House File 2446, an agriculture finance bill that includes local food purchasing grants, farm down-payment assistance, funds for avian influenza testing and worker protections. The bill passed after committee leaders described it as a bipartisan compromise.
The Minnesota House passed House File 2446, the agriculture finance bill, after floor debate and a roll-call vote in which 130 members voted yes and 3 voted no.
The bill combines a range of programs and appropriations intended to support farmers, food programs and animal-health responses. Author and Agriculture Committee co-chair Representative Paul Anderson described the measure as “a pro farming, a pro agriculture bill.”
Members said the package includes programs to help farmers and communities. Representative Rick Hansen, co-chair, summarized priorities including investments to buy food from farmers for schools and underserved communities, expansions in animal-health preparedness related to avian influenza, and research into issues such as PFAS in biosolids. “So money into farmers pockets to help people eat,” Hansen said on the floor.
Key provisions discussed on the floor include: - Minnesota Down Payment Assistance Grant: up to $20,000…
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