Create the Ohio Food and Agriculture Policy Council

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
S. B. No. 288

2025-2026

Senator Hicks-Hudson

Cosponsors: Senators Craig, Smith

To

create the Ohio Food and Agriculture Policy Council and to make an
appropriation.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
(A)
The Ohio Food and Agriculture Policy Council is created to make
recommendations to the General Assembly regarding food systems that
strengthen the state's food and farm economies. The Council shall
engage in advocacy, education, and policy work to enhance the health
and wellness of the citizens of Ohio and to encourage the
sustainability of natural resources.

(B)
The Council shall consist of the Director of Agriculture or the
Director's designee and all of the following members appointed by the
Governor:

(1)
One member who represents the Ohio Hospital Association;

(2)
One member who represents Ohio State University Extension;

(3)
One member who represents Central State University Extension;

(4)
Three members who represent the Ohio Farm Bureau;

(5)
One member who represents urban farming;

(6)
One member who represents rural farming;

(7)
One member who represents statewide food banks;

(8)
One member who is a registered lobbyist who represents Ohio
cooperatives.

(C)(1)
The Governor shall make appointments to the Council not later than
sixty days after the effective date of this section. The Council
shall convene not later than ninety days after the effective date of
this section. Each appointed member of the Council shall serve for a
four-year term. Each appointed member is subject to removal at the
pleasure of the Governor. Any vacancy on the Council shall be filled
in the same manner as the original appointment. After the expiration
of each appointed member's four-year term, the Council ceases to
exist.

(2)
The Council shall be considered a part of the Department of
Agriculture for administrative purposes. The Director of Agriculture
or the Director's designee shall serve as Chairperson of the Council.
The Council may request from the Director, and the Director shall
provide, meeting space, assistance, services, and information to
enable the Council to carry out its duties.

(D)
The Council shall develop a statewide plan containing policy and
funding recommendations for promoting and supporting an equitable,
healthy, and sustainable food system on the state and local level.
The Council shall engage in educational outreach and shall make
recommendations to the General Assembly as needed. The Council also
shall compile and deliver, not later than the first day of March each
year, an annual report to the General Assembly detailing the
Council's recommendations concerning all of the following topics:

(1)
Food security;

(2)
Food access;

(3)
Food production and distribution;

(4)
Food waste;

(5)
Economic development;

(6)
Food procurement;

(7)
Food chain workers;

(8)
Food systems resilience.

Section
2.
All
items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any
moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund.
For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first
column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are
for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act
are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these
fiscal years.

Section
3.

1

2

3

4

5

A

AGR
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

B

General
Revenue Fund

C

GRF

700514

Special
Projects

$500,000

$0

D

TOTAL
GRF General Revenue Fund

$500,000

$0

E

TOTAL
ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS

$500,000

$0

SPECIAL
PROJECTS

The
foregoing appropriation item 700514, Special Projects, shall be used
to support the activities of the Ohio Food and Agriculture Policy
Council established under Section 1 of this act.

Section
4.
Within
the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and
Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount
of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine
the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained.
Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act
shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly.