Bill > A03633

This bill establishes a comprehensive Veterans in Agriculture Assistance and Outreach Program designed to support and integrate veterans into the agricultural sector. The program, to be administered by the state department of agriculture, will provide a wide range of services including recruiting and training veterans for agricultural careers, identifying employment and mentorship opportunities, facilitating educational connections through Cornell University and SUNY, and connecting veterans with local, state, and federal resources. A key feature of the bill is the creation of a special logotype that will help identify products produced by veterans or veteran-owned businesses, which will be made available at no cost and incorporate the existing New York State Grown and Certified Seal. The program defines a "veteran" broadly to include those who served in various uniformed services and have been discharged under honorable conditions, and also establishes criteria for what constitutes a "qualified veteran business entity." The program will offer support services ranging from mental health resources and suicide prevention to assistance with grant applications, property leasing, and creating a distinct veterans' category in the state's agricultural certification database. Notably, the program will be available not only to veterans but also to their immediate family members in certain circumstances, with the goal of promoting veteran participation and success in agriculture.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3633