Updates in 2026:

• H3543 [LS] Relative to the protection and development of the thermal commons of the Commonwealth; Establishes a thermal commons commission; recommendations for geothermal infrastructure must consider land‑use impacts, water quality, soil health and thermal stability
• S2542 [LS] To build resilience for Massachusetts communities; “Mass Ready” bond bill authorizing $2.9 billion for resilience; includes $120 M for land, soil, water and natural‑resource conservation and a healthy soils grant program, plus funds for carbon‑sequestration projects

Updates in 2025:

• H125 [LS] Establishing healthy soil performance guidelines; Similar to H142; directs Department of Agricultural Resources to set post‑construction soil performance guidelines—soil depth, carbon storage, infiltration, nutrient mitigation and compaction—to align with healthy soils practices – new draft, see H4421
• H130 [LS] Relative to membership updates for the Massachusetts Food Policy Council; Updates Massachusetts Food Policy Council membership to include a representative who is an expert in healthy soils practices – language removed in new draft
• H142 [LS] Establishing healthy soil performance guidelines; Similar to H125; requires post‑construction soil performance guidelines that address soil depth, organic carbon storage, infiltration and compaction to support healthy soils – new draft, see H4421
• H4421 [LS] Establishing healthy soil performance guidelines; includes that “department [of environmental protection], in consultation with the division of conservation services, shall promulgate regulations relative to post-construction soil performance guidelines that shall include but not be limited to soil depth and quality, carbon storage capacity, storm water runoff, water quality, fertilizer and nutrient input mitigation, and compaction or infiltration capacity” – reported favorably to House Ways&Means
• H4430 [LS] Promoting agriculture resilience and sustainability; defines “regenerative agriculture” as practices that improve soil health (topsoil depth, infiltration, organic carbon, diversity) and creates a fund to compensate farmers for ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and water filtration – new draft, see H4854
• H4854/S2801 [LS/LS] Fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts; agricultural preservation restriction goals must weigh soil health, water recharge, biodiversity and carbon sequestration; defines “regenerative agriculture” as “agriculture that: (i) improves the health of soils, including, but not limited to, the consideration of depth of topsoil horizons, water infiltration rate, organic carbon content, bulk density, biological activity, biological diversity and bare ground; (ii) is achieved through practices such as conservation tillage or no-till, cover-cropping, planned grazing, integrated crop-livestock systems, synthetic chemicals reduction and other methodologies; and (iii) is conducted in consultation with the commission for conservation of soil, water and related resources” – reported favorably by committee
• S65 [LS] Establishing healthy soil performance guidelines; Requires post‑construction soil‑performance guidelines (depth, organic‑carbon storage, infiltration, nutrient mitigation) to align with healthy‑soils practices and reduce compaction – in Senate Ways&Means at adjournment

Updates in 2024:

• H855 [LS] Relative to food justice with jobs; in creation of Community Agriculture Standards, bill defines: “Feasible and appropriate”, includes (i) physically and biologically possible, as determined by the commissioner; (ii) economically viable, as determined by the commissioner; and (iii) ecologically advantageous, as determined by the commissioner, including, but not limited to, improving soil health, sequestering carbon, increasing biodiversity, protecting natural habitats, protecting the health of pollinators, and any other aspect of ecological sustainability deemed important by the commissioner – reported favorably from Joint Committee on Agriculture, in House Ways and Means
• S2096 [LS] Relative to Massachusetts’ carbon dioxide removal leadership; includes, “Environmental justice and community engagement report…shall include a description and quantification, where possible, of the proposed carbon dioxide removal project’s effects on: (i) equity and environmental justice, including health and quality of life; (ii) the local ecosystem, including soil health, biodiversity, and water and air quality; and (iii) job creation and economic development.” – reported favorably from Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, in Senate Ways and Means

Updates in 2023:

• H3901 [LS] Making appropriations for the fiscal year 2024 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the Commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements; includes “$100,000 shall be expended for the Massachusetts Coordinated Soil Health program” – see H4040
• H4040 [LS] Making appropriations for the fiscal year 2024 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the Commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements; includes “$1,020,000 shall be expended for the administration of the healthy soils program”, “$100,000 shall be expended for the Massachusetts Coordinated Soil Health program”, and “$40,000 shall be expended to Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, Inc. in the town of Orange for healthy soils work and educational programming” – signed and enacted 8/9/2023
• S2400 [LS] Similar Bills; includes “$1,020,000 shall be expended for the administration of the healthy soils program” and “$40,000 shall be expended to Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, Inc. in the town of Orange for healthy soils work and educational programming – see H3901

Updates in 2022:

• H2908 [LS] Relative to stormwater management and climate change adaptation incentives; includes soil health in ecological property tax exemption – stalled in committee, accompanied a study order
• H967/S495 [LS/LS] Relative to food justice with jobs; includes soil health in Community Agriculture Standards; consideration of improving soil health – Feasible and appropriate” includes (i) physically and biologically possible, as determined by the commissioner (ii) economically viable, as determined by the commissioner and (iii) ecologically advantageous, as determined by the commissioner, including, but not limited to, improving soil health, sequestering carbon, increasing biodiversity, protecting natural habitats, protecting the health of pollinators, and any other aspect of ecological sustainability deemed important by the commissioner.”, subsequent draft does not have soil health – stalled in committee

Updates in 2021:

• H5250 [LS] Enabling partnerships for growth; economic development bill of 2020 session (sections 4-8, 13, and 73); includes:
  • “To assist in the development of a healthy soils program, as instructed by the director, to:
  (i) improve soil quality on lands utilized for commercial farming, suburban and urban lawns, yards and gardens, public and private forests, parks and other open or green spaces and non-paved outdoor areas of office complexes, mixed-use facilities, businesses, industries and colleges and other institutions;
  (ii) increase carbon sequestration or storage on such lands to help reduce harmful atmospheric greenhouse gases and the effects of climate change; and
  (iii) provide other measurable benefits, determined as applicable under the program to certain types of lands, related to climate change, plant growth, erosion control and water absorption and quality.” and
  • “To encourage and promote the use of healthy soils policies and practices by private and public landowners, including commercial farmers, and any assistance available to program participants, which may consist of grants, technical assistance or education on the benefits and implementation of healthy soils best practices, as the director may instruct, to achieve the purposes of the healthy soils program.”;
  includes definitions:
  • “”Healthy soils”, soils that enhance their continuing capacity to function as a biological system, increase soil organic matter, improve soil structure and water and nutrient-holding capacity and result in net long-term greenhouse gas benefits.” and
  • “”Healthy soils practices”, practices that:
  (i) improve measurable soil health on lands utilized for commercial farming, suburban and urban lawns, yards and gardens, public and private forests, parks and other open spaces and non-paved outdoor areas of office complexes, mixed-use facilities, businesses, industries and colleges and other institutions;
  (ii) provide 1 or more of the following benefits: (A) improve food production; (B) encourage the health, growth and biological diversity of plants and forests; (C) increase water infiltration reducing storm water run-off; (D) provide drought and crop resilience; (E) enhance water quality; and (F) reduce the use of fertilizers and herbicides; and (iii) provide greenhouse gas benefits.” – signed into law 1/14/2021

Pre-2021

• H873 [LS] (2019) To promote healthy soils and agricultural innovation within the Commonwealth; adds definition for “healthy soils practices” and sets up fund for programs, adds expert on healthy soils practices to food policy council – broad bi-partisan support with 37% of legislators co-sponsoring, hearing likely in May.
• S2404 [LS] (2019) Promoting healthy soils for reducing greenhouse gases and the effects of climate change in the commonwealth; Healthy Soils bill – stalled in Senate Ways & Means
• S438 [LS] (2019) To promote healthy soils and agricultural innovation within the Commonwealth; adds definition for “healthy soils practices” and sets up fund for programs, adds expert on healthy soils practices to food policy council – broad bi-partisan support with 37% of legislators co-sponsoring, hearing likely in May.