Bill > S2734

Introduced Session

The bill directs the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to establish, in consultation with the Department of Health, the "Farm to Food Bank Pilot Program" for farmers to contract with food banks for the timely distribution of produce and other agricultural food products. The program would operate for three years after the bill is enacted into law, terminating 90 days after the submission of the report to the Governor and Legislature required under the bill, except that the bill provides that farmers and food banks would continue to honor the terms and conditions of any contract in effect after the termination date until the conclusion of the contract. The bill authorizes the DOA, within the limits of appropriations for the program, to provide a farmer with a grant to cover all or part of the farmer's production costs, up to a reasonable market price for the produce or agricultural food product, as determined by the DOA. The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to request annually, as part of the DOA's budget proposal, an appropriation as may be necessary to fund the program and provide grants to farmers under the program.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Latham Tiver (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee (on 02/15/2024)

Official Document