Farm to School Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Peter Welch
Introduced
Summary
Would reauthorize and expand the Farm to School program to strengthen local food procurement and support school-based agriculture and nutrition education. It would broaden who can get grants, add research and technical assistance, and push for better local processing and distribution.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More grant money, limits for farm-to-school
If enacted, the bill would raise the program's yearly cap to $15 million. The Secretary could use up to 5% of those funds for administration. Individual grants would be capped at $500,000 and at 3-year terms. Grants that would pay only to hold a conference could not be awarded.
Broader farm-to-school program definition
If enacted, the bill would define "farm to school" to include gardens, local procurement, and food education. It would replace the word "schools" with "institutions" and add land-grant colleges and nonprofits. The bill would explicitly include fishers and farm-raised fish producers. Grants could also pay for research and evaluation.
Grants to improve local food distribution
If enacted, the bill would authorize grants to fund aggregation, processing, transportation, and distribution projects. The goal would be to make it easier for local producers to sell to schools and other institutions. Grants could support new ways to gather, process, and move local food.
More help and priority for Tribal producers
If enacted, the bill would give highest priority to projects that serve Tribal communities and use Tribal products. The Secretary could allow Tribal agencies to use certain federal funds to meet grant matching rules. The Secretary could also waive or reduce non-federal matches for top-priority projects. The Secretary would do outreach and provide technical help to beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged producers.
Regular review of market barriers
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary to report to Congress within one year and every three years after that. The reports would identify regulatory and market barriers faced by small and Tribal producers. The review must look at compliance costs, market access, and barriers to program funding.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Peter Welch
VT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
ME • R
Sponsored 11/6/2025
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 11/6/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov