HB339

HB 339 Written testimony Rep. Peter Bixby, Straff. 13 1/30/2025 HB 339 adds a section on agriculture and food production to the RSA that governs municipal master plans. I submitted HB 339 relative to master plans in response to the New Hampshire Food and Agriculture Strategic plan. The Strategic Plan is being developed by a broad coalition of New Hampshire Food and Agriculture organizations, including the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food and the New Hampshire Food Alliance. The goal of the strategic plan is to strengthen the agriculture and food producing sector in the state so that a much greater fraction of the food we consume comes from in-state. The plan includes 27 briefs covering many different aspects of agricultural and food production. The Land Use Planning brief includes the recommendation that the statute that guides municipal master plans (RSA 674:2) be amended to include an optional section on Agriculture and Food Production. Currently, 674:2 III lists 15 optional section covering topics from transportation and economic development to natural resources and recreation. There is not, however, as section related to agriculture. One importance purpose of these optional sections is to give the volunteer committees in towns and cities who develop and revise master plans ideas of what should be included in a master plan. This bill adds an optional section r) that covers agriculture and food production. Agriculture is an important part of the identity of many of our communities. Knowing that agriculture can be part of the master plan could inspire committees to include planning elements that will actively support our farmers and food producers. The bill, at the request of the Municipal Association, adds a catch-all section s) that covers topics not specifically covered in existing sections.