Bill > S05140

This bill establishes a farm-to-school task force and requires the commissioner of education to develop a program to improve local food sourcing in public schools. The task force will consist of nine members appointed by various state leaders, including representatives from the governor's office, state legislature, and the commissioner of education. The task force's primary goal is to study and make recommendations on providing fresh foods in school districts while supporting New York local agriculture and increasing market opportunities for farmers from under-represented communities, specifically focusing on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers. The members will be appointed within 120 days of the bill's effective date, and they must submit a comprehensive report to the governor, legislature, and education commissioner within one year of their initial appointments. Additionally, the commissioner of education will be required to develop a program based on the task force's findings that mandates all school districts in the state to source fresh foods in a way that supports local agriculture and provides market opportunities for farmers from under-represented communities. The bill is set to take effect on the first day of January following its enactment.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5140