VirginiaHB8592026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Farm to School Program Task Force; membership requirements.

Sponsored By: Rae Cousins (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Department of Education; Farm to School Program Task Force; membership requirements. Amends the membership requirements of the Farm to School Program Task Force established in accordance with applicable law by requiring the membership to include (i) one member of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules after consideration of the recommendation of the Chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health; (ii) one member of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates after consideration of the recommendation of the Chair of the House Committee on Education; (iii) at least four members to be appointed by the Department of Education, including at least one school board member, one representative of the Department of General Services involved in procurement, one representative of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and one farmer or producer in the Commonwealth who sells only the farm or agricultural products produced or grown by him; and (iv) such additional members as the Department of Education deems necessary or appropriate.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Task force to expand farm-to-school

The law creates a Farm to School Program Task Force in the Department of Education to expand farm-to-school programs statewide. It defines farm-to-school as serving local foods in school meals or hands-on learning like gardens and farm visits. The Task Force includes one state senator, one state delegate, and at least four Department appointees: a school board member, a procurement official from the Department of General Services, an Agriculture and Consumer Services representative, and a farmer who sells only their own products; the Department may add other members. The Task Force works with school boards, farmers, agencies, and community groups to assess programs, share best practices, issue school-garden guidance, help schools use grants, collect data, and recommend policies to school boards, the Board of Education, and the General Assembly. The law does not provide new funding.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rae Cousins

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 328 • No: 5

House vote 3/10/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 98 • No: 1

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Education and Health Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/3/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 93 • No: 2

House vote 1/28/2026

Reported from Education

Yes: 18 • No: 2

House vote 1/27/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0684)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 684 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB859)

    3/31/2026House
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB859ER)

    3/30/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 1-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/9/2026Senate
  12. Education and Health Substitute agreed to

    3/9/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/9/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    3/9/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/6/2026Senate
  16. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/5/2026Senate
  17. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/5/2026Senate
  18. Rules suspended

    3/5/2026Senate
  19. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

    3/4/2026Senate
  20. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB859)

    3/2/2026House
  21. Committee substitute printed 26108248D-S1

    2/27/2026Senate
  22. Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

    2/26/2026Senate
  23. Assigned Education sub: Public Education

    2/19/2026Senate
  24. Senate subcommittee offered

    2/19/2026Senate
  25. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

    2/4/2026Senate

Bill Text

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