New York S 8868: Enacts the New York state food security purchase and processing act; appropriation

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 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

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S08868 Summary:

BILL NOS08868 

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SAME ASSAME AS A09606

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SPONSORHINCHEY

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add Art 27-A §§460 - 463, Ag & Mkts L

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Enacts the New York state food security purchase and processing act to establish a state-level program that purchases food grown or raised by New York farmers; requires processing within New York State; distributes such food to communities in need.

Go to top S08868 Actions:

BILL NOS08868 

&nbsp

01/12/2026REFERRED TO FINANCE

Go to topS08868 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS08868 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS08868 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 8868

 IN SENATE

 January 12, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance

 AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to enacting
 the New York state food security purchase and processing act; and
 making an appropriation therefor

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "New York state food security purchase and processing act".
 3 § 2. Legislative findings and intent. 1. The legislature hereby finds
 4 that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in national food
 5 supply chains and underscored the importance of resilient, local and
 6 regional food systems.
 7 2. New York State's farmers, food processors, and emergency food
 8 networks have demonstrated their essential roles in maintaining food
 9 access during times of disruption.
 10 3. The federal Local Food Purchase Assistance Program has shown the
 11 potential of state-facilitated procurement to simultaneously reduce food
 12 insecurity and support agricultural viability.
 13 4. The legislature finds that transitioning to a state-funded, perma-
 14 nent food procurement program that requires in-state processing will
 15 expand local economic impacts, promote sustainability, and increase food
 16 system self-reliance.
 17 5. Therefore, the legislature declares the necessity of establishing a
 18 state-level program that purchases food grown or raised by New York
 19 farmers, requires processing within New York State, and distributes such
 20 food to communities in need.
 21 § 3. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new arti-
 22 cle 27-A to read as follows:
 23 ARTICLE 27-A
 24 NEW YORK STATE FOOD SECURITY PURCHASE AND PROCESSING ACT
 25 Section 460. Definitions.
 26 461. Establishment of the New York state food security purchase
 27 and processing program.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD14258-01-5

 S. 8868 2

 1 462. Program requirements.
 2 463. Reporting.
 3 § 460. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
 4 have the following meanings:
 5 1. "Program" shall mean the New York state food security purchase and
 6 processing program established pursuant to section four hundred sixty-
 7 one of this article.
 8 2. "Eligible entity" shall mean any food bank, emergency food relief
 9 organization, nonprofit food distributor, tribal government, or local
 10 municipality approved by the department to receive and distribute food.
 11 3. "New York state food producer" shall mean any person or business
 12 that grows, raises, harvests, or processes food within the state.
 13 4. "Processing" shall mean any activity that alters raw agricultural
 14 products, including but not limited to cutting, butchering, packaging,
 15 freezing, cooking, preserving, or otherwise preparing for consumption,
 16 and must occur within the state.
 17 5. "Underserved community" shall mean a geographic area or population
 18 experiencing high levels of food insecurity or limited access to fresh
 19 and nutritious food, as determined by the department.
 20 § 461. Establishment of the New York state food security purchase and
 21 processing program. 1. The department is hereby authorized and directed
 22 to establish and administer the New York state food security purchase
 23 and processing program.
 24 2.