Bill > SB120

This bill establishes the Urban Farmer Youth Initiative Pilot Program, a two-year program from fiscal years 2026 to 2027 designed to provide agricultural education and support to urban youth between ages six and eighteen. The program will be created by the Chancellor of Higher Education in collaboration with Ohio State University and Central State University Cooperative Extension Services, operating in two to four counties. The bill also makes several modifications to existing state laws, including adding a definition for "temporary greenhouse" and clarifying building code exemptions for agricultural structures. The program is funded with $500,000 from the General Revenue Fund and will allow the Chancellor and extension services to develop programming, partner with local entities, and support existing agricultural organizations in expanding urban youth agricultural education. Additionally, the bill provides that any gardens or structures created under this pilot program will be exempt from height restrictions. The program aims to introduce urban youth to farming and agricultural practices, potentially encouraging future agricultural engagement and understanding.

Budget and Finance

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb120