Section 03.20.200 - Forgivable Loan Program for Farm Development and Improvement(a) The division of the department with responsibility for agriculture shall establish a forgivable loan program in regulation, under which a recipient's loan may be forgiven by the department if the recipient implements a business plan approved by the department to develop or make improvements to the recipient's farm as described in (d) of this section. A loan may be used by a recipient to fund investments in agriculture to build resiliency in the state's food supply. The forgivable loan program must allow a loan to be forgiven if the recipient implements the approved business plan and demonstrates a subsequent increase in food production and distribution.(b) In administering the forgivable loan program established under (a) of this section, the department(1) shall develop criteria for awarding a forgivable loan and a process for applying for a forgivable loan that includes requiring (A) a forgivable loan applicant to submit a business plan that provides (i) how the applicant will meet the criteria required by the department to approve a forgivable loan under this section;(ii) a timeline for the applicant to meet the upgrades, construction, or expansion funded by the forgivable loan; and(B) the department to(i) approve an applicant's business plan before awarding a forgivable loan;(ii) visit an applicant's farm, facility, or other site that would receive funding under a forgivable loan made under this section;(2) shall require a recipient of a forgivable loan to report to the department on the use of forgivable loan funds;(3) may make forgivable loans of up to $150,000 to an applicant for eligible farm development and improvement expenses approved by the department;(4) shall, subject to appropriation, make the program available to applicants annually until all available funds have been distributed.(c) A business plan approved by the department under (b)(1)(B)(i) of this section may be amended upon approval of the department.(d) Expenses eligible for a loan under this section include expenses relating to (1) clearing of land for agricultural purposes; and(2) the purchase, building, installation, maintenance, or improvement of (A) irrigation, drainage, and other water management systems;(B) fencing, trellising, barns, greenhouses, or other farm buildings or structures;(C) agricultural processing and farm equipment, including milking and pasteurization equipment;(D) livestock, feed, seeds, fertilizer, and seasonal extension equipment; and(E) bees and beekeeping equipment.(e) A forgivable loan recipient must repay to the fund any money not spent from a forgivable loan received under this section. Forgivable loan funds used for expenses that are not eligible under (d) of this section or that are not accounted for in a recipient's business plan approved by the department under (b) of this section must also be repaid to the fund. Any money repaid by a forgivable loan recipient shall be deposited into the general fund.Added by SLA 2022, ch. 64,sec. 2, eff. 7/1/2022.