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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 859: Farm to School Program Task Force; membership requirements.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 859 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 13, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Farm to School Program Task Force; membership requirements. Primary sponsor: Rae Cousins (Democratic). It lists 3 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 13, 2026): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0684).

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Rae CousinsPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse79
Nicole ColeCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse66
Amy LauferCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse55
Cia PriceCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse85

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0684)
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 684 (effective 7/1/2026)
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
  5. Signed by Speaker
  6. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB859)
  7. Signed by President
  8. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB859ER)
  9. Enrolled
  10. Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 1-N 0-A)
  11. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
  12. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

Showing 12 most recent of 35 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source