As we mentioned last month, a group of local residents and Nipmuc leaders have written and filed Bill HD.3659, which returns the Lampson Brook Farm to the Nipmuc People, allows NESFI farmers to continue their leases, and helps Belchertown meet its stated goals for sustainability and climate resilience. You can read the legislation at the link above and find more details on this fact sheet. This bill is meant to replace Bill S.2972, which passed in 2021 but has not been enacted due to several technical and procedural flaws- the most troubling among them that it lacked consultation with the Nipmuc in its drafting. A recently published Gazette article further explains the situation that led to the new bill's filing.

We are hoping to activate our networks of supporters to take action to move this legislation forward. There are a few ways you can get involved:

Register for our Landback Legislative Campaign Information Session on Monday March 10th at 7pm! We will share more about the campaign and how you can plug in. 

Contact your legislators to let them know that you support HD.3659 and that you’d like them to co-sponsor it. Please provide your name and address, the number of the bill, and some information about why this bill is important to you. You can find your legislators here. Please also ask them to speak in favor of the bill to Belchertown State Senator Jake Oliviera and Rep Aaron Saunders, who have outsized influence over whether or not it moves forward. 

If you or your organization are regularly in touch with state legislators, please sign on to this letter of support which we will deliver to Oliveira and Saunders.