Bill > A4381

Introduced Session

The bill establishes a task force to be known as the "Farm Mental Health and Financial Services Task Force." The purpose of the task force would be to develop and maintain a list of mental health and financial assistance services for farm owners and operators, farm supervisors, and farm laborers to bolster the mental and psychological well-being of farmers and persons who own, operate, or work on farms and provide financial services to enable these persons to navigate the business and financial challenges of farm life that may contribute to stress and deteriorating mental and psychological well-being. The five member task force would consist of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Health, and three public members, appointed by the Governor, including: 1) a representative of a farmer advocacy group; 2) a representative of a Statewide banking association active in agricultural communities, who has experience in providing financial services, or has a firm understanding of the financial services available, to farmers and other persons working on farms; and 3) a representative of a Statewide mental health advocacy group, who is familiar with the mental health providers and services that are available to provide counseling and other mental health assistance to farmers and other persons working on farms in the State. The task force would be required to develop and publicize a list of mental health and financial assistance services that are available to farm owners and operators, farm supervisors, and farm laborers in the State, and provide associated information on the types and nature of available services and the manner in which such services may be accessed. The task force would be required to post the list of available services on the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health websites, and thereafter, maintain and update the list every 180 days to ensure that it contains the most up-to-date information. After the online publication of the list the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health would be required to broadcast periodic public service announcements, each year, to alert the public to the availability of the list. The task force would be required to issue a report, to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than three years after the task force's initial organizational meeting, and at least every three years thereafter, summarizing the work undertaken by the task force during the reporting period, describing the impact the task force has had on the mental, psychological, and financial well-being of farmers and persons who own, operate, or work on farms, providing recommendations for the continuation of task force operations in future years, and providing recommendations for executive, legislative, and other actions that are deemed by the task force to be beneficial to, or appropriate to support, the mental and psychological well-being of farmers and persons who own, operate, or work on farms in the State. The rate of suicide among farmers is three and a half times higher than among the general population, according to the National Rural Health Association. Suicide rates in rural communities increased by 48 percent between the years 2000 and 2018, compared with 34 percent in urban areas.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Alex Sauickie (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee (on 02/19/2026)

Official Document