All Roll Calls
Yes: 328 • No: 5
Sponsored By: Rae Cousins (Democratic)
Became Law
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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1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
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.
Rae Cousins
Democratic • House
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
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
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0684)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 684 (effective 7/1/2026)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB859)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Signed by Speaker
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB859ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 1-N 0-A)
Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Education and Health Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Read third time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB859)
Committee substitute printed 26108248D-S1
Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
Senate subcommittee offered
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Chaptered
4/13/2026
Enrolled
3/30/2026
Substitute
2/27/2026
Substitute
2/19/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
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