# Delaware SB 53: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE FARM TO COMMUNITY PROGRAM.

Delaware SB 53, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE FARM TO COMMUNITY PROGRAM., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Gerald W. Hocker (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-09-16 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB53-153
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Delaware SB 53
- State: Delaware
- Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)
- Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE FARM TO COMMUNITY PROGRAM.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-05-19
- Last action: 2026-09-16, Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: Gerald W. Hocker (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (60 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Local food help with outlet checks: mixed, low. The law establishes Delaware’s Farm to Community Program to support local food access, including free and discounted food through community outlets. The agriculture department runs it with the Farm and Food Council; outlets need a site visit, state approval, safe food-handling capacity, and an acti…
- Food grants prioritize Delaware farms: mixed, low. Approved outlets with active agreements can get grants to buy, gather, store, and distribute local food within Delaware, including home deliveries and gleaned second- and third-harvest produce. Grants can also support extra fixed-rate payments to farmers who collect food from farms they do not oper…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Gerald W. Hocker (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Alonna Berry (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: William J. Carson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ronald E. Gray (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Debra Heffernan (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Russell Huxtable (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kendra Johnson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Larry Lambert (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dave G. Lawson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: David L. Wilson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lyndon D. Yearick (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-30 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-06-11 | Senate | Passed (SM required) | pass | 20 | 0 |   |

## Actions (7)

- 2026-09-16: Signed by Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-30: Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT (House)
- 2026-06-17: Reported Out of Committee (Agriculture) in House with 6 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits (House)
- 2026-06-11: Assigned to Agriculture Committee in House (House)
- 2026-06-11: Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate)
- 2026-06-10: Reported Out of Committee (Agriculture) in Senate with 6 Favorable (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: Introduced and Assigned to Agriculture Committee in Senate (Senate)

## Bill text

- Current, 2026-05-19: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143350&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2)

## Related bills

- HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST LICENSURE ACT. (passed house)
- HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO SUPPORT POOR PERSONS. (signed)
- SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. (vetoed)
- SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. (vetoed)
- HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLIC UTILITY CONSUMERS. (vetoed)
- HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING FOAM AND EQUIPMENT. (failed)

## Sources
- [Current (HTML)](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143350&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2)

## Related
- [HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB449-153)
- [HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB357-153)
- [SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB231-153)
- [SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB279-153)
- [HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB393-153)
- [HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB356-153)
- [Delaware bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware/bills)
- [Delaware state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB53-153 (as of 2026-10-19).