Introduced January 28, 2026
AN ACT relating to Kentucky-grown agricultural product procurement and declaring an emergency.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define "agricultural product" and "Kentucky-grown agricultural product"; allow a local school board or local school district participating in any of the United States Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Programs to purchase Kentucky-grown agricultural products in accordance with federal law.
In effect since March 27, 2026
This act carries an emergency clause, so it took effect as soon as it became law instead of waiting the usual 90 days after the session adjourned (Ky. Constitution § 55).
Plain-language summary
This bill allows local school boards and districts that take part in federal child nutrition programs to purchase food products grown in Kentucky. It sets up definitions for what counts as a Kentucky-grown agricultural product to guide those purchasing decisions. The goal is to give schools a clear path to buy locally grown food while staying within federal rules. Who it may affect: students in school meal programs, local farmers and agricultural producers, and school district administrators.
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Legislative History
Primary Sponsor
Jason Howell
Senator · Senate District 01
Co-sponsors (5)
Shelley Frommeyer
Senator · Senate District 24
Gary Boswell
Senator · Senate District 08
Matthew Deneen
Senator · Senate District 10
Gerald Neal
Senator · Senate District 33
Lindsey Tichenor
Senator · Senate District 06
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