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119-hr-6065119th CongressWALLET

Farm to School Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]

Introduced

Summary

Expand local farm-to-school programs and strengthen Tribal and small-producer access. This bill would reauthorize and enlarge the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program to fund local food procurement, hands-on agricultural education, research, and stronger tribal engagement across schools and other institutions.

Show full summary
  • Families and children: It would fund experiential, culturally appropriate, and nutrition education in school and institution settings to boost local food choices and address diet-related health issues among children.
  • Agricultural producers and small farms: It would broaden who can get support to include farmers, ranchers, and fishers, emphasize outreach to beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged producers, and fund projects for aggregation, processing, transportation, and distribution to help local sales.
  • Tribal governments and institutions: Tribal projects get top priority when they use Tribal products and traditional foods. Tribal agencies may use certain federal funds to meet matching requirements for grants.

*Would raise the program's authorized funding base from $5 million to $10 million and cap administrative use at 5 percent, while limiting grants to $500,000 and 3 years per award.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Bigger farm-to-school grants with caps

This bill would raise program funding from $5 million to $10 million. USDA could spend up to 5% on administration. Any single grant would be capped at $500,000 and last no more than 3 years. The Secretary would vary award sizes and terms to fit projects. Grants could not be used only to hold a conference.

Broader farm-to-school help for kids

This bill would widen who can join farm-to-school efforts. Land‑grant colleges and nonprofits could get grants. It would define program activities like school gardens, local food buying, and lessons about food. Farmers, ranchers, and fishers (including farm‑raised fish) would count as producers. Projects for Tribal communities that use Tribal and traditional foods would get the highest priority. Plans would include hands‑on and culturally appropriate food and farm lessons. The Secretary would offer outreach, research, and technical help to schools, Tribes, and producers, including beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged producers. The program’s dates would be updated to 2025 through 2030.

Easier match rules, more tribal flexibility

This bill would let USDA waive or change non‑Federal matching rules for top‑priority projects and publish how to apply. A Tribal agency could use some Federal funds or benefits as the non‑Federal share if allowed by those funds. This could lower cash barriers for high‑need and Tribal projects.

Grants to improve local food delivery

This bill would direct USDA to fund projects that make local food buying and delivery work better for schools and other institutions. Projects could include aggregation, processing, transport, and distribution. If passed, this could help small and regional producers sell to nearby institutions more easily.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]

VI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 11/17/2025

  • Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 11/17/2025

  • Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 11/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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