Bill
Bill > S1711
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill would establish the "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program" in the Department of Agriculture. The bill requires the department to adopt regulations that: (1) provide encouragement for public institutions of higher education that provide meal programs to expand or improve their kitchen facilities to allow for the daily production of meals that incorporate more fresh, locally grown or produced farm produce, fruit or other products; (2) establish a bidding matrix that provides for public institutions of higher education to purchase New Jersey grown food and allows them to adopt price preferences for local agricultural and farm products; (3) in conjunction with the Secretary of Higher Education, develop ways in which public institutions of higher education can increase the procurement of locally grown or produced farm produce, fruit or other products for use in meals; and (4) create a public directory for New Jersey farmers with contact information of purchasing agents at public institutions of higher education, and another public directory for purchasers with information about qualified New Jersey farmers and distributors. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program" website that provides information on the program, and includes a copy of any public contract or other written agreement for the purchase of fresh foods and the provision thereof to students, which has been entered into and successfully implemented by a public institution of higher education. Finally, the bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to solicit and accept contributions from private and public sources for the purpose of providing support to help fund the "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program," which encourages public institutions of higher education to purchase produce from local farmers to incorporate in meals throughout the growing season, and to increase the amount of local fresh produce available for consumption by students.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program" within the Department of Agriculture to encourage public colleges and universities, which are defined as Rutgers, state colleges and universities, and public research universities, to purchase more locally grown food for their meal programs. The program will involve the Department of Agriculture creating regulations to help these institutions improve their kitchen facilities for preparing meals with fresh, local produce, and developing a system for bidding on and purchasing New Jersey-grown food, potentially with price preferences for local products. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of online directories connecting New Jersey farmers with purchasing agents at these institutions, and vice versa, and a dedicated website for the program that will also feature successful contracts for local food purchases. The Secretary of Agriculture is also authorized to accept private and public donations to support the program's goal of increasing the availability of local fresh produce for students.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S1711 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S2000/1711_I1.HTM |
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