第130屆波士頓馬拉松賽將有32494人參賽 中港台共1222人

波克萊台灣商會製作的波士頓馬拉松賽台灣隊圖片。（圖片來自Line群組）

         (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 波士頓體育會（BAA）今（3）日公佈，即將於4月20日舉行的第130屆波士頓馬拉松賽，將有來自137國，以及全美50州的32,494人參賽，其中麻州居民有4698人。

            根據波士頓體育會的參賽者名單，來自中港台三地的跑者，依序有805，175，242人。來自麻州的跑者中，依姓氏看至少有158名華人，其中住在波士頓的有25人，住在牛頓市的有14人。其他2個較多華人愛跑步的鎮為布魯克蘭鎮（Brookline），勒星頓鎮（Lexington），安多福鎮（Andover），依序有8，8，7人參賽。

            今年的這場長26.2英里，穿越8個市鎮的比賽，將有包括1800點名醫療志工的1萬多名志工，在現場服務。波士頓體育會透過美國銀行與193個非牟利機構合作的波士頓馬拉松賽官方慈善項目，籌得了超過目標今的5040萬元。將為各個比賽組別發出共148萬4500元獎金。

            波士頓體育會列出的10名著名跑者，分別為贏得2025年愛島季（Love Island Season）7 比賽的Bryan Arenales，1968年波士頓馬拉松冠軍Amby Burfoot，波士頓棕熊隊（Bruins）前隊長Zdeno Chara，作家暨活動家Chelsea Clinton ，Dropkick Murphys音樂家Jeff DaRosa，前凱特爾隊球員Chris Herren，前美國足球國家隊球員Kristine Lilly，2018年波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍Des Linden，太空人Suni Williams，以跑步為題材的網紅Laura Green。

            波士頓體育會預定4月15日為起跑線噴漆，4月16號為終點線噴漆。4月17日至19日，在海恩斯會展中心（Hynes Convention Center ）將有美國銀行波士頓馬拉松博覽會，在波士頓市政府廣場的波士頓馬塞翁粉絲節，以及山姆亞當斯跑者酒吧。

            在4月17日至20日中，每晚8點起，柯普利廣場費爾蒙酒店外牆將有燈光秀。

            4月18日將有麻州布瑞根癌症研究所主辦的波士頓5K賽，以及波士頓體育會的邀請賽，波士頓兒童醫院贊助的波士頓體育會青年賽。

            波克萊台商會創會會長游勝雄在十數年前發起的宴請台灣跑者龍蝦宴，後來因為從台灣來波士頓跑馬拉松的人數太多，改為召集台灣跑者在華埠的「天下為公」牌樓前大合照的傳統延續至今。現任會長陳冠中和前任會長陳奕如分別在Line群組中發送消息，提醒台灣跑者及波士頓支持者，今年的拍大合照時間，定在4月18日下午1點半至2點半。波克萊台灣商會不僅為此製作了一張波士頓馬拉松賽「台灣隊」海報，還製作了200個鑰匙圈，要當紀念品，先到先得的送給出席大合照跑者。報名連結: https://forms.gle/2XYJESGs1GeTUj2X6。

Voting Rights Groups Challenge Executive Order on Mail-In Ballots as Illegal Interference in Elections

 Voting Rights Groups Challenge Executive Order on Mail-In Ballots as Illegal Interference in Elections 

President Trump’s unlawful executive order would take control of mail-in ballots from the states and create an unvalidated, error-prone system that would risk disenfranchising eligible voters

The president does not have constitutional authority to regulate elections. President Trump’s prior executive order on voting failed in court for the same reason.

Boston, MA – A coalition of voting rights organizations filed a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts challenging President Trump's March 31 executive order concerning mail-in voting. The Constitution explicitly states that only Congress and the states can set the rules for elections. Nevertheless, the order attempts to displace states’ mail-in voting laws by transforming the U.S. Postal Service from a neutral mail carrier to an arbiter of who may cast a ballot by mail.

The order also requires the Department of Homeland Security to build and give to each state a list of citizens eligible to vote. Given that federal databases are out-of-date and unreliable, this risks mass disenfranchisement of eligible voters. 

The suit was filed by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, the League of Women Voters, Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO), U.S. Vote Foundation, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

They are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Massachusetts, Brennan Center for Justice, Legal Defense Fund (LDF), Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), and LatinoJustice PRLDEF.

The plaintiffs and their counsel released the following statement:

"This executive order is an illegal and dangerous attempt by the Trump administration to eliminate accessible voting options and subvert our democracy by seizing control of election administration from the states and Congress. If implemented, it would disenfranchise eligible voters across the nation.

“Attempts to end voting by mail are part of the Trump administration’s larger strategy to undermine elections and subvert the will of the people. The U.S. Constitution is clear: the states and Congress — not the president — set the rules for our elections. President Trump tried to make an end-run around the Constitution with another executive order last year and was promptly rebuffed by multiple courts. History will repeat itself.

“This executive order would upend countless state laws and procedures regarding mail-in voting. It could deny eligible voters, including voters with disabilities, U.S. citizens living abroad, and military members and their family members, the right to vote by mail — and unknown numbers will be disenfranchised without that option. Far from improving elections, this executive order would create chaos for election officials, erode public confidence in our elections, and block Americans from exercising their most fundamental right and responsibility as citizens — voting. By taking the administration to court, we are standing up for the rule of law and the promise of our democracy.” 

向90 年代天后致敬MUSE演唱會 5/7 在劍橋市 The Sinclair 演出

公關公司提供

     （Boston Orange編譯）新英格蘭地區知名實力派唱將 Jacyn Tremblay 與 Lauren Rhoades 將於5 月7日以「繆思：向90 年代天后致敬（Muse: A Salute to Divas of the ’90s）」為主題，在劍橋市哈佛廣場的「聖克萊爾（The Sinclair）」演出。

Tremblay 與 Rhoades 曾是環球唱片（Universal/Motown）旗下流行/節奏藍調（R&B ）女子團體 JADA 的成員，合作20多年，2022年推出「繆思：向90 年代天后致敬（Muse: A Salute to Divas of the ’90s）」以來，她們帶領專業 Live Band 在各地劇院頻創完售紀錄，不但翻唱，而且為雪兒（Cher）、瑪丹娜（Madonna）、惠妮·休斯頓（Whitney Houston）及艾拉妮絲·莫莉塞特（Alanis Morissette）等巨星的經典曲目，重新注入充滿活力的現代現場感。

 

這場演出不僅是一場音樂會，更是一次集體集體回憶的共鳴，將 90 年代最具代表性的女性力量再次帶回舞台中心。

 

Jacyn Tremblay 表示，「這些音樂是永恆的，它大膽、感性，能瞬間讓人產生連結，」。Lauren Rhoades 則感性補充，這些天后的歌曲伴隨她們長大，她希望觀眾在旋律響起時，能重拾第一次聽見這些歌時的悸動。

 

本次演出也將這份懷舊情懷轉化為實際社會影響力。主辦方與公益組織 The Shout Syndicate 合作，每售出一張門票，將提撥 0.25 美元，用於資助波士頓地區青少年的藝術發展。這場在 The Sinclair 的演出將是該團隊今年度最重要的一站。

 

「繆思：向90 年代天后致敬（Muse: A Salute to Divas of the ’90s）」演唱會將於5 月 7 日（週四）晚上7點或8點，在麻州劍橋市The Sinclair（52 Church St, Cambridge, MA 02138）演出。購票可上網https://www.sinclaircambridge.com/events/detail/1338121，或追蹤社群： Instagram @musedivas | @jacynthegirl | @laurenrhoades

Massachusetts Senate to Vote on Budget that Lowers Taxes on Housing Construction, Sends Money to Municipalities, Invests in Education and Statewide Transit

 Massachusetts Senate to Vote on Budget that Lowers Taxes on Housing Construction, Sends Money to Municipalities, Invests in Education and Statewide Transit   

Bill pairs innovative policy changes with generational investments in schools and statewide transportation  

 

(BOSTON—4/2/2026) Next week, the Massachusetts Senate will debate a supplemental budget bill that spurs new multifamily housing construction, boosts the family medicine workforce, and eases strained municipal budgets with regionally equitable Fair Share investments. 

 

The legislation was approved today by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.  

 

The supplemental budget, S.3041, includes innovative policy proposals to eliminate the sales tax on housing construction materials and deliver scholarships to UMass Medical graduates who agree to deliver care to underserved populations in Massachusetts after graduation. 

 

The bill utilizes $1.34 billion from the Fair Share surtax on high-earning households to make investments in public education and transportation across the state. The Senate plans to debate the legislation during a formal session on Thursday, April 9. 

 

Education funding includes $150 million for early education and care initiatives and $232 million for special education costs and local reimbursements, while transportation investments feature $535 million for MBTA and commuter rail programs and improvements and $218 million for statewide road and bus supports, including municipal funding relief for winter storm expenses. 

 

“By including innovative policy solutions with strong investments, in this budget we are going beyond just allocating funding,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “We are lowering taxes to spur housing, building our health care workforce, and protecting our immigrant neighbors, on top of making generational investments in statewide transit and education. I’m grateful to Chair Rodrigues for his leadership in delivering this bill, and I look forward to voting on it next week.” 

 

“This Fiscal Year 2026 consolidated supplemental budget prioritizes municipal relief and regional equity, makes meaningful Fair Share investments in education and transportation, and is fiscally responsible by mitigating near-term revenue impacts associated with federal tax changes,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “It strives to boost the family medicine workforce pipeline through a higher education scholarship program, eases strained municipal budgets with statewide Fair Share investments and fosters conditions to boost the state’s housing stock. I want to thank Senate President Spilka for her steadfast support and all of my Senate colleagues for their input throughout this process and look forward to further improving this bill during the full Senate debate next week.” 

 

Sales Tax Exemption to Spur Housing Construction 

 

The legislation would incentivize production of new affordable, moderate-income, and middle-income housing units by creating a new sales tax exemption for building materials, supplies, and other related costs associated with approved multifamily projects. The exemption would be capped at $35 million annually.  

 

To target production in areas with the greatest need, the program focuses on projects that include at least 15 per cent affordable units and projects in communities where the median household income is below 120 per cent of the average household income. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) would be tasked with prioritizing project approval. 

  

Scholarships to Boost the Primary Care Workforce 

 

The Committee’s bill takes a novel approach to improving recruitment and expanding the workforce of family medicine physicians in Massachusetts. The legislation creates a new pilot scholarship program to provide free tuition to medical students pursuing family medicine at the UMass Medical School if they commit to staying in Massachusetts and serving populations in need. 

 

Eligible students would complete their degree and then practice family medicine in Massachusetts for at least five years at a community health center or within a hospital system that serves low-income patients. The legislation funds the pilot program with $10 million in Fair Share revenues. 

 

Robust Aid to Ease Strained Municipal Budgets 

 

In an effort to relieve extraordinary strains on local town and city finances, the legislation provides an infusion of $391 million in targeted aid to ease municipal budgets. Following recent severe storms, the supplemental budget sets aside $100 million for municipal winter relief, including $20 million specifically marked for communities that weathered especially severe storm impacts.  

 

The bill would also send relief to school districts with $232 million for special education costs, including $32 million in immediate relief by increasing reimbursement rates for the current fiscal year. Other municipal aid includes $25 million to assist with the costs of regionalizing smaller school districts; $15 million for the literacy launch initiative to improve educational outcomes and support accelerated literacy growth for learners from kindergarten through 3rd grade; $7 million for maintenance of unpaved roads; $2.5 million for school-based mental health support and wraparound services; and $1 million to help public school districts implement bell-to-bell cell phone-free school policies. 

 

The bill advanced today by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means is a new draft of legislation previously passed by the House of Representatives on March 18, 2026, and based on a bill filed earlier in the year by Governor Maura Healey. 

 

In addition to the supplemental budget’s more than $1 billion in Fair Share investments for education and transportation, the legislation makes nearly $500 million in supplemental appropriations from FY26 general fund revenues. That supplemental spending includes: 

 

·       $300 million for Group Insurance Commission costs driven by higher-than-anticipated utilization and pharmaceutical expenses. 

·       $41.7 million for Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) staffing, supporting caseworkers responsible for administering core assistance programs, and implementing recent federal eligibility changes. 

·       $20 million for increased Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) fuel assistance, supporting households with children, veterans, disabled and elderly persons facing strain with their heating bills because of the colder than average winter. 

·       $12.3 million for Committee for Public Counsel Services court costs, including expert witness and vendor services tied to elevated caseloads. 

·       $1 million for legal services to increase access to legal representation, advice, and advocacy for immigrants and refugees who are facing enhanced legal threats from the federal government. 

All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website. Additional details of legislation up for consideration by the Senate are included in fact sheets available in the Senate press room. 

波士頓警察局提醒居民買贓物會被移送法辦 已發出數百份罰單

波士頓警察Sean Wallace（右起）和黃天輝（Frank Wong)
報告上個月罪暗，提醒居民千萬別買贓物。（周菊子攝）

             (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓華埠居民會4月1日召開月例會，波士頓警察呼籲居民千萬別買贓貨，夏利臣街229號改建案徵求支持，波士頓市府華埠聯絡員林天琪歡迎居民每週三下午4點半至6點半，到華埠社區中心找她聊天。

            大約三、四十名華埠居民，4月1日晚在昆士小學飯堂舉行4月份的月例會，一程只有3項，警察報告，夏利臣街229號改建陳情，以及其他通告。

波士頓警察局在現場派發的中文版防詐騙說明。（周菊子攝）

            波士頓警察局A-1區警察黃天輝（Frank Wong）報告了2宗案件，一是3月17日早上11點45分左右，警察巡邏時，在司徒麗英（Mary Soo-Hoo）公園看見一名嫌犯在兜售疑似贓物商品，並於盤查後逮補。該嫌犯承認，他以每件5元的價格出售可能是贓物的草飼羊肉、雀巢及星巴克品牌咖啡等商品。警方同時截獲一名疑似買家，拿著一袋商品準備離開的亞裔男子。由於警方查獲的均為容易腐敗食品，已收繳銷毀。

Up Design and Build建築師薛魁（右）說明夏利臣街229號改建內容。（周菊子攝）

            另一名警察Sean Wallace指出，無論是販售或購買贓物，都是違法行為，警方一旦查到，將立即逮補，移送法辦。他強調，警方已爲此發出數百張罰單，呼籲居民千萬不要知法涉法，即使是購買贓物，也將被傳喚，起訴。

由於波士頓華埠公園一帶，銷贓，買贓行為仍然猖獗，波士頓警察同意居民意見，將爭取安裝更多不可銷售，購買贓物告示牌。

華埠居民會執委黃碧華擔心有人被逼遷，探問還有一個人住在樓裡，
一旦改建，命運如何。（周菊子攝）

波士頓市華埠聯絡員林天琪（左）拿了許多傳單向居民匯報。（周菊子攝）

黃天輝報告的第2宗案件為商業入室竊盜案，發生在3月13日中午12點12分。一名身穿黑外套，紅襪隊球帽的男子，嘗試從正門進入夏利臣街（Harrison）1號的風餐廳（Kaze Shabu）不果後，破壞了Essex街的店舖後門，闖了進去，到酒吧區把酒瓶藏入外套，還到地庫酒窖，用黑色垃圾袋裝走大量酒品。當員工發現時，他謊稱自己是送貨員，店舖員工試圖奪回裝酒的袋子時，袋子在搶奪中破裂，許多瓶酒跌出摔碎了。嫌犯撞開員工後，帶著剩餘價值約300到400元的酒品逃離，還在逃跑時破壞了門鎖。警方已調取監視器畫面，正追查中。

夏利臣街229號改建案由Up Design and Build的建築師薛魁（Kyle Xue）陳述，華埠主街經理何陳素貞協助播放簡報片，回答提問。

波士頓市華埠聯絡員林天琪表示每週三下午4點半到6點半，
是她為華埠居民設立的辦公時間。（周菊子攝）

薛魁說明，夏利臣街229號高4層，目前是2家庭屋架構。屋主有意把這棟房屋改建成有4個住宅單位的樓宇，需要拆除現有的老虎窗和斜坡屋頂，再藉重建屋頂，把整座建築改成有完整4層高，每層可有一戶住宅的樓宇。這晚的陳情，主要是爭取居民支持，以順利從市政府那兒申請施工證。

華埠居民會執委黃碧華提問，表示她知道該棟樓宇內，目前還住有一個人，一旦拆屋，那個人怎麼辦？何陳素貞在何遠光解釋，知道問題關鍵在是否會逼遷後，說明目前住在那棟樓裏的人是看守房屋的人，不會發生逼遷情況。

居民會現場。（周菊子攝）

鄺寶蓮接著表示，一旦改建竣工，希望這棟樓的房屋，能以低廉價格出租，幫助有需要的民眾。

波士頓市長華埠聯絡員林天琪（Katrina Lin）這晚出席，告訴華埠居民，一些波士頓市府正在舉辦，王氏青年會為耆英提供的免費項目。

她先說明，波士頓市府的「愛你的街區（Love Your Block）」活動，居民可以自己選擇清潔哪個街區，然後和朋友一起做。市府的掃街服務從4月1日起恢復，有車居民須注意清掃時段，車輛不得停留在清掃街道上。另外，王氏青年會有很多項目，耆英可免費參加，希望居民們可充分利用。

林天琪也提醒家有幼稚園2級班（K2）到小學6年級小朋友的人家，可查詢參加儲蓄省錢（Boston Saves）計畫，開戶就可獲得50元。

林天琪表示，每週三下午4點半至6點半，她將在昆士小學入口處的波士頓華埠社區中心設立辦公時間，歡迎居民在這段時間到那兒找她談任何事情。

波士頓市長吳弭訂4/15為2026波士頓團結日 呼籲民眾做善事當志工

            （Boston Orange編譯）波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）和波士頓體育會（B.A.A.） 4 月 1 日聯袂發佈年度行動號召，呼籲呼籲企業、社區組織及居民，在 4 月 15 日（週三）的 2026 年「波士頓日（One Boston Day）」中，做善事，參加志願服務，攜手紀念2013 年馬拉松爆炸案的受害者、倖存者與救難英雄。

            波士頓市將於4 月 15 日的這星期，舉辦多項服務計畫。市長辦公室訂 4 月 18 日（週六）上午 9 點到富蘭克林公園（Franklin Park Playstead）辦理鄰里大掃除，現已開放民眾登記。

            穩健前行中心（Stepping Strong Center）將於 4 月 15 日舉辦兩場免費的線上「止血（Stop the Bleed）」培訓，指導民眾遇到致命性出血事故時，在救護人員抵達前應如何應變。

4 月 15 日上午，市府還將與波士頓體育會（B.A.A.）在後灣區（Back Bay）舉行獻花儀式。B.A.A.表示，由於第130 屆波士頓馬拉松賽即將於4月18日舉行，15日當天將引導已抵達波士頓的參賽運動員與志工一起參加紀念儀式，相關活動資訊已放在波士頓市政府官網（boston.gov/one-boston）。

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES CITY OF BOSTON WILL MARK ONE BOSTON DAY WITH ACTS OF KINDNESS

City of Boston will lead service activities and calls on community-based organizations and residents to plan One Boston Day volunteer opportunities

BOSTON – Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston today released the annual call to action for community-based organizations, businesses, and city of Boston residents to come together for volunteer events and acts of kindness in recognition of our City’s spirit of care for one another in response to the tragic events of April 15, 2013. One Boston Day, observed on April 15, honors the victims, survivors, and first responders of the 2013 Boston Marathon. Mayor Wu is encouraging acts of kindness on Wednesday, April 15, and for people to take part in volunteer opportunities throughout the week.

 

“Thirteen years ago, when the horrific tragedy at the Boston Marathon shook our city to its core, we came together in love—mourning families, supporting survivors, and healing together,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Each year on One Boston Day, we honor that spirit by coming together to perform acts of kindness for one another and make a difference in our neighborhoods. I hope everyone will join their neighbors today in honoring those we lost and celebrating the love that makes Boston a home for everyone.”

 

City of Boston departments and workers will again this year be hosting service projects for people to give back to their communities on April 15 and throughout the week leading up to Marathon Monday, April 20, 2026. The Mayor’s Office of Civic Organizing is facilitating a neighborhood cleanup for youth and families on Saturday, April 18, 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m. at Franklin Park Playstead. Interested volunteers are asked to register for the annual cleanup here. 

 

“As spring arrives in Boston each year, we are reminded of the hope and spirit of our city,” said Bill Richard, co-founder of the Martin Richard Foundation. “One Boston Day gives us a moment to reflect on our shared values most importantly to care for one another.”

 

“In Boston, resilience is not just remembered—it is lived. One Boston Day honors the enduring spirit of a city that rises together, supports one another, and transforms adversity into unity, compassion, and strength,” said Audrey Epstein Reny, founder of The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “That spirit, so evident in the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon tragedy, continues to guide us as we come together in service of one another to meet today’s challenges.

 

In honor of One Boston Day, the Stepping Strong Center is offering a free, virtual Stop the Bleed training open to the public. Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable injury death and can be fatal in as little as five minutes, often before first responders arrive. However, there are simple techniques that bystanders can use to slow or stop bleeding and save a life. The rapid application of these techniques in the chaotic moments after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing helped to save the life of Gillian Reny, for whom the center is named. On Wednesday, April 15, free Zoom sessions are available at 12:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. to learn how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and take immediate, effective action. Registration can be found here for the 12 p.m. session and here for the 6 p.m. session.

 

As the city marks 13 years since 2013, the City of Boston and the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) will honor the day with a wreath laying in the Back Bay the morning of Wednesday, April 15. More details will become available in the coming weeks.

 

"One Boston Day is a time for all of us to remember, uplift, and extend ​gratitude to one another. As race day and the 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America approaches, we encourage all athletes, volunteers, spectators and community members to unite and celebrate the spirit, resilience, and determination of our community on One Boston Day,” said Jack Fleming, President & CEO of the Boston Athletic Association. “This year’s One Boston Day will occur on ​Wednesday of Boston Marathon race week, a time when many athletes from around the world begin arriving to Boston. As stewards of the event, the Boston Athletic Association looks forward to welcoming the world to our home and showcasing what truly makes our community and sport special.”

 

More information about One Boston Day will be available here boston.gov/one-boston.

Senate Passes FARM Bill to Support the Farms That Feed Massachusetts

Senate Passes FARM Bill to Support the Farms That Feed Massachusetts 

Makes farm-to-table programs permanent, combats federal cuts and climate change threats 

 

(BOSTON—4/1/2026) Today, the Massachusetts Senate passed the FARM Bill, agricultural legislation aimed at supporting Massachusetts’ 7,000 farms, making it easier for families to buy fresh and nutritious food, and protecting the state’s food supply for the future. 

 

The legislation—formally known as S.3029, An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts—is a major step forward in supporting Massachusetts farmers and growing the state’s agricultural economy. It builds on a recent special commission report focused on making Massachusetts agricultural operations sustainable for the 21st century. 

 

The FARM Bill helps owners of small farms to grow their businesses by removing hurdles and making agritourism ventures possible, such as corn mazes and ‘pick your own’ berry and fruit operations. The legislation also supports expanding farm operations with a local option property tax exemption for new agricultural buildings.  

 

“Massachusetts relies on the farms and fisheries that put fresh, local food on our tables, and it’s on us to make sure they can keep going and thrive,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This bill does exactly that. It helps farms stay open, makes it easier for families to buy fresh, local food, and strengthens our food system for the long run. When we support our farmers, we’re supporting everyone in Massachusetts. I’m grateful to Chairs Rodrigues and Fernandes for their leadership, and to Senator Comerford for her steadfast advocacy on behalf of farmers across the Commonwealth.” 

 

“Today, the Senate took decisive action to bolster the Commonwealth’s agricultural industry and also address persistent food insecurity in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Farmland is one of the most tangible assets we have in the state, and this bill protects and ensures the future of farms for generations to come. By codifying essential food nutrition programs, we strengthen our food assistance safety net that is threatened by both the uncertainty at the federal level and the continuing effects of the pandemic. I’m especially proud that we also strengthen our vital cranberry industry, Massachusetts’ most valuable agricultural product. I would like to thank Senate President Spilka for her leadership, and also Vice Chair Comerford and Senator Fernandes for their work and leadership on this bill and their steadfast support of the agricultural community.” 

 

The bill makes it easier for residents to access healthy food, making permanent the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) to help families afford fresh produce and the Farm to School program to bring local ingredients into schools. By codifying these programs, the Senate is continuing its response to federal actions that threaten food access as a part of the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative. A further Response 2025 priority requires that state emergency planning efforts prioritize the security of the local food supply chain given federal cuts to emergency planning. 

 

The FARM Bill additionally requires regular reporting on the distribution of local produce through food banks, universal school meals, Meals on Wheels, the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP), and other food assistance programs. This data will help assesses the damage from detrimental federal actions such as the elimination of the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which purchased food from historically underserved Massachusetts farmers and provided it to underserved communities. 

 

“As Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries, I'm proud to support the Senate's effort to build a more resilient and sustainable food system in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Dylan A. Fernandes (D-Falmouth), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries. “The FARM Bill will expand access to fresh, locally grown food while putting more money into the hands of our farmers and fishermen. By reducing costs, strengthening supply chains, and expanding reliable markets, this legislation makes strategic investments into an industry that is essential for our economy, environment, and the health of our communities. I’m deeply grateful to Senator Comerford for championing this bill and to the work of the Senate President and Ways and Means Chair for bringing it to the floor.” 

 

“Today, the Senate advanced urgently-needed legislation to support the farms, producers, and fisheries that are the foundation of our local and regional food systems,” said Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), co-Chair of the Special Commission on Agriculture in the 21st Century and Senate Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries. “In western and north central Massachusetts, where agriculture is core to our economy and identity, we know that when we lose farmland, we lose far more than fields—we lose livelihoods, food security, and community. This legislation reflects the recommendations of the Special Commission on Agriculture in the 21st Century—a body that I was proud to co-chair. I’m grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka and Ways and Means Chair Mike Rodrigues for their steadfast leadership. With the FARM Bill, Massachusetts is stepping up—investing in the next generation of farms and fisheries while ensuring more local, nutritious food reaches Massachusetts families.” 

 

Supporting Farmers and Growing the Agricultural Economy 

  

The legislation includes key provisions to help farmers remain viable and expand their operations. New farm buildings and structures would receive a five-year property tax exemption under a local option program added to the bill today. Senators voted 38-0 to adopt the property tax exemption (Amendment 5). 

 

The bill also expands opportunities for farmers to participate in agritourism, makes the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) Program permanent, and eases the water permitting process for cranberry growers. 

  

Planning for the Future of Agriculture and Climate Change 

  

The FARM Bill includes forward-looking initiatives to protect farmland and improve long-term planning by creating a statewide agricultural land database and improving the evaluation of the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program to ensure long-term sustainability. 

 

It directs emergency planning efforts to prioritize local food production and avoid supply chain disruptions, and explores renewable energy opportunities on farmland, balancing clean energy goals with agricultural land preservation. 

 

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced the legislation to the full Senate with a 16-0 vote on March 23, 2026. All committee votes are posted on the Legislature’s website and full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate Press Room. 

 

The Senate passed the bill on a 39-0 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.