HB859Introduced in the House of Delegates
Farm to School Program Task Force; membership requirements.
Introduced by Rae Cousins, District 79
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
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.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0684)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 1-N 0-A) · March 10, 2026
98
Yes
1
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each delegate voted
| Delegate | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hope | 1 | Yes |
| Adele McClure | 2 | Yes |
| Alfonso Lopez | 3 | Yes |
| Charniele Herring | 4 | Yes |
| Kirk McPike | 5 | Yes |
| Richard Sullivan | 6 | Yes |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | 7 | Yes |
| Irene Shin | 8 | Yes |
| Karrie Delaney | 9 | Yes |
| Dan Helmer | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105157D
Referred to Committee on Education
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
Reported from Education (18-Y 2-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB859)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (93-Y 2-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
Senate subcommittee offered
Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Committee substitute printed 26108248D-S1
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB859)
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Education and Health Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 1-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB859ER)
Signed by President
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB859)
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 684 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0684)
Verify the information
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