Local legislators’ bill concerning health, agriculture now law
NATALIE BLAIS
ADAM HINDS
Emily Niedziela of Hadley works at Route 9 Farmstand in Hadley, Wednesday, Set. 2, 2020. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
By ANITA FRITZ
A bill filed by two local legislators giving farmers, farm stands, farmers markets and others involved in agriculture a say in the development of local health regulations was signed into law this week.
State Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, and state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, filed the bill (S2446), which gives agricultural commissions input on boards of health regulations, requiring local boards to consider comments and recommendations from their town’s or city’s agricultural commissions when they are developing regulations relating to farming and agriculture.