Senate Bill S7637

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Establishes the commission for agricultural education excellence to assist in developing a statewide plan for increasing agricultural literacy and supporting agricultural education

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 24, 2025	referred to education

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §141, Ed L

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the commission for agricultural education excellence to assist in developing a statewide plan for increasing agricultural literacy and supporting agricultural education; provides for the membership and powers and duties of such commission; requires the commission to file an annual report with the governor and the legislature.

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7637

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the
commission for agricultural education excellence


 
PURPOSE:

To establish a commission for Agricultural Education Excellence to be
run by the State Education Department in conjunction with the Department
of Agriculture and Markets and the Department of Labor.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one adds a new section to the education law creating the Commis-
sion for Agricultural Education Excellence which is charged with creat-
ing a statewide plan for increasing agricultural literacy and supporting
agricultural education. The commission has 19 members appointed for
3-year terms including the commissioners of Ag and Markets, SED and DOL,

the presidents of FFA and 4-H, and stakeholders appointed by the commis-
sioners from lists given by the Senate and Assembly. Those stakeholders
include two farmers, two secondary teachers of agriculture, a represen-
tative of a SUNY school that has an agriculture major, and a represen-
tative of the agricultural processing and marketing industries.

The commission is charged with duties including:

* Suggesting policy and programs to deepen public understanding of the
agriculture, food, and natural resources industries;

* Educating students on the role of the agricultural industry in achiev-
ing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals;

* Increasing the effectiveness and accountability of agricultural educa-
tion programs;

* Providing support and technical assistance to K-12 learning and work-
based agriculture programs;

* Offering support for statewide FFA and 4-H activities;

* Showcasing tech-focused jobs in the agricultural sector; and

* Producing an annual report on the status of agricultural literacy and
education in NY.

The report will be provided to the executive and legislature and include
an outline of agricultural education programs, an assessment of needs in
agricultural education, training, and workforce, highlights of new
initiatives, and recommendations for future programs and legislative or
regulatory changes.

Section two states the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Providing a well-rounded education for all of our students has always
been a priority for New York State, and yet, to date, our curriculum has
missed an important field that relates to nearly every subject covered
in our schools - agriculture.

Ag education is vital for students to develop a holistic understanding
of the world and develop a critical understanding of not only where our
food comes from, but also of careers in the food system.  Currently,
most schools teach students about the health of their bodies, the histo-
ry of our state, and the science of our world, but information around
our food supply is severely lacking. This is a missed opportunity: in an
Ag classroom, students get to see how all of the different parts of
their curriculum work together in the real world and it provides tangi-
ble learning experiences for everything from math and science, to
economics, physics, technology and health, to name a few.

New York's students have embraced agricultural education when provided
with the opportunity. Since 2016, local schools have added more than 100
FFA chapters across the state. Teaching students about agricultural
literacy is crucial for them to learn about where their food comes from,
how it's grown, and the importance of having a local food supply, while
instilling an early sense of responsibility for caring for the environ-
ment.

But the lack of agriculture in the classroom in many schools has a real
impact: educating students on health, science or any subject can inspire
them to pursue careers in that field. Without agricultural education,
students may never be introduced to the wide array of diverse careers
available to them in the agricultural field. And, with the average age
of a farmer at 58 years old and trending upward, we need to be inspiring
the next generation of ag leaders across our state, including in our
more urban areas. Agriculture plays an important role in reaching our
climate goals and investing in our local food supply is smart economic
policy. Our school system should recognize the opportunity and help move
our state forward with robust ag education.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7637
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 24, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
   commission for agricultural education excellence
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 141 to
 read as follows:
   § 141. COMMISSION FOR AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION EXCELLENCE. 1.  THERE  IS
 HEREBY ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THE COMMISSION FOR AGRICULTURAL
 EDUCATION  EXCELLENCE  TO  ASSIST  IN  DEVELOPING  A  STATEWIDE PLAN FOR
 INCREASING AGRICULTURAL LITERACY AND SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL  EDUCATION.
 THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  IMPLEMENT  THE  REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMMISSION
 WITHIN FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT AND  IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH  THE
 DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  AND MARKETS, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AS
 PROVIDED FOR UNDER THIS SECTION.
   2. (A)  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  CONSIST  OF  NINETEEN  MEMBERS  TO  BE
 APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS:
   (I) THE COMMISSIONER, OR THEIR DESIGNEE;
   (II) THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS, OR THEIR DESIGNEE;
   (III) THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR, OR THEIR DESIGNEE;
   (IV)  THE  DEAN  OF  THE  COLLEGE  OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES OF
 CORNELL UNIVERSITY, OR THEIR DESIGNEE;
   (V) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION  AND  OUTREACH  AT
 CORNELL UNIVERSITY;
   (VI)  A  MEMBER  OF THE NEW YORK AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM ADVISORY
 COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE CHAIR;
   (VII) THE PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK FFA;
   (VIII) THE DIRECTOR OF THE CORNELL  COOPERATIVE  EXTENSION,  OR  THEIR
 DESIGNEE;
   (IX) THE PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE 4-H;

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10115-02-5

 S. 7637                             2
 
   (X)  TEN  MEMBERS  WHO SHALL BE JOINTLY APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER,
 THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS,  AND  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF
 LABOR  FROM LISTS SUBMITTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND
 THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MINORITY LEADER OF
 THE SENATE AND THE MAJORITY LEADER AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEM-
 BLY AS FOLLOWS:
   (1) TWO FARMERS;
   (2)  A  REPRESENTATIVE  OF  THE  AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING AND MARKETING
 INDUSTRIES;
   (3) TWO SECONDARY TEACHERS OF AGRICULTURE, ONE FROM A BOARD OF COOPER-
 ATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTER AND  ONE  FROM  A
 SCHOOL  DISTRICT  APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK ASSOCIATION
 OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATORS;
   (4) A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK  AGRICULTURAL
 AND  TECHNICAL  COLLEGES  THAT OFFER AGRICULTURE MAJORS, WHO HAS A BACK-
 GROUND IN OR KNOWLEDGE OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION;
   (5) A SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR FROM A SCHOOL  THAT  CONDUCTS  AN
 AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM;
   (6)  ONE  MEMBER  FROM ANY COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY THAT OFFERS STATE-AP-
 PROVED AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE TEACHER PREPARATION  PROGRAMS  OR  A  PUBLIC
 COMMUNITY  COLLEGE  IN  THIS STATE THAT PROVIDES AN ARTICULATED AGRICUL-
 TURAL SCIENCE TEACHER EDUCATION COURSE OF STUDY; AND
   (7) TWO MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WITH KNOWLEDGE  OF  AGRICUL-
 TURAL EDUCATION.
   (B)  EACH  MEMBER  OF  THE  COMMISSION SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF THREE
 YEARS, EXCEPT THAT OF THE INITIAL MEMBERS SO  APPOINTED:  SEVEN  MEMBERS
 SHALL  SERVE  FOR  A  TERM OF THREE YEARS, SIX MEMBERS SHALL SERVE FOR A
 TERM OF TWO YEARS, AND SIX MEMBERS SHALL SERVE A TERM OF ONE YEAR.  SUCH
 INITIAL TERMS SHALL BE RANDOMLY DETERMINED AMONG THE MEMBERS. ANY VACAN-
 CY  IN THE COMMISSION SHALL BE FILLED FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM IN THE SAME
 MANNER AS THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT.
   (C) THE CHAIR OF THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  ROTATE  ON  AN  ANNUAL  BASIS
 BETWEEN  THE  COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS,
 AND THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR, WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE  AND
 MARKETS CHAIRING THE FIRST ANNUAL ROTATION.
   (D)  A  MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION THEN IN OFFICE SHALL
 CONSTITUTE A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF ANY BUSINESS OR THE  EXERCISE
 OF ANY POWER OR FUNCTION OF THE COMMISSION.
   (E) MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL NOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR THEIR
 SERVICES  AS  MEMBERS,  BUT  SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY
 EXPENSES REASONABLY INCURRED IN THE  PERFORMANCE  OF  THEIR  DUTIES.  NO
 MEMBER  SHALL  BE  DISQUALIFIED  FROM HOLDING ANY OTHER PUBLIC OFFICE OR
 EMPLOYMENT BY REASON OF SUCH PERSON'S APPOINTMENT OR SERVICE AS A MEMBER
 NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF ANY OTHER LAW TO THE CONTRARY.
   (F) THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF  AGRICULTURE
 AND  MARKETS  AND  THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, SHALL PROVIDE THE COMMISSION
 WITH SUCH STAFF, EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES AND SUCH OTHER RESOURCES  AS  THE
 COMMISSION MAY NEED TO CARRY OUT ITS POWERS AND DUTIES.
   (G)  THE  COMMISSION SHALL KEEP A RECORD OF ALL OF ITS PROCEEDINGS AND
 ACTIONS.
   3. THE COMMISSION SHALL:
   (A) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON POLICY, PROGRAMS,  AND  INITIATIVES  AIMED
 AT:
   (I)  DEEPENING  THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND
 NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF  LOCALLY  SOURCED  FOOD
 SUPPLIES;
 S. 7637                             3
 
   (II)  EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THE ABILITY OF THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY
 TO ASSIST THE STATE IN ACHIEVING THE GOALS SET BY THE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP
 AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT;
   (III)  INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL
 EDUCATION PROGRAMS;
   (IV) ADDRESSING INDUSTRY WORKFORCE  NEEDS,  INCLUDING  ATTRACTING  AND
 PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR AGRICULTURAL CAREERS;
   (V)  PROVIDING  IN-SERVICE  TRAINING  FOR  AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN THE
 AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY; AND
   (VI) PROMOTING TECHNOLOGY FOCUSED JOBS AND CAREERS IN THE AGRICULTURAL
 INDUSTRY;
   (B) CONSULT WITH SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND BOARDS  OF  COOPERATIVE  EDUCA-
 TIONAL SERVICES TO FACILITATE ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS WITH POSTSECONDARY
 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION;
   (C)  PROVIDE  SUPPORT  AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPERVISED AGRICUL-
 TURAL EXPERIENCE, ALSO KNOWN AS WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS,  BASED  ON
 STUDENT AND INDUSTRY NEEDS;
   (D)  PROVIDE  SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR K-12 PROGRAMS USING
 FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AS CONTEXT FOR LEARNING;
   (E) OFFER SUPPORT AND COORDINATION FOR STATEWIDE AND LOCAL  ACTIVITIES
 RELATED TO FFA PROGRAMS;
   (F)  OFFER SUPPORT AND COORDINATION FOR STATEWIDE AND LOCAL ACTIVITIES
 RELATED TO 4-H PROGRAMS;
   (G) INVESTIGATE, REVIEW, AND ISSUE AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE  STATUS  OF
 AGRICULTURAL  LITERACY  AND  EDUCATION IN THE STATE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
 SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION  THAT  INCLUDES  THE  LOCATION  OF  ALL
 RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE COMMISSION;
   (H)  SERVE  AS A LINK BETWEEN THE AGRIBUSINESS SECTOR AND THE AGRICUL-
 TURAL LITERACY AND EDUCATION  SYSTEM  TO  COMMUNICATE  MUTUAL  CONCERNS,
 NEEDS, AND PROJECTIONS;
   (I) ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A SYSTEM OF INCREASED AWARENESS OF AGRICUL-
 TURAL  LITERACY EDUCATION AND ITS CONTINUED NEED TO ALL RESIDENTS OF NEW
 YORK; AND
   (J) STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MODEL CURRICULUM OR  INSTRUCTION
 ON  AGRICULTURAL  LITERACY  AND EDUCATION IN AN APPROPRIATE PLACE IN THE
 CURRICULUM OF ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
   4. BY MAY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX, AND BY  MAY  FIRST  OF  EACH
 YEAR  THEREAFTER,  THE  COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR
 AND THE LEGISLATURE ON THE STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN THE STATE
 OF NEW YORK. THE REPORT SHALL:
   (A) OUTLINE AGRICULTURAL LITERACY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND  ACHIEVE-
 MENTS;
   (B)  ASSESS  THE  TRENDS  AND  NEEDS  IN SECONDARY AND BOTH FORMAL AND
 INFORMAL POSTSECONDARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING;
   (C) INVESTIGATE AND ASSESS WORKFORCE TRENDS OF THE AGRICULTURE,  FOOD,
 AND NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY;
   (D) ASSESS AND MAKE PROGRAMMING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEETING THE TRAIN-
 ING NEEDS FOR INDIVIDUALS NOT PURSUING FORMAL POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION;
   (E) IDENTIFY CRITICAL NEEDS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AGRI-
 CULTURE,  FOOD,  AND  NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY IN THE STATE, ITS WORK-
 FORCE, AND AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES, AND IDENTIFY HOW TO BEST STRENGTHEN
 THE INDUSTRY FOR GROWTH AND PROFITABILITY;
   (F) CONSIDER THE MANNER IN  WHICH  FUNDS  ARE  ACQUIRED  AND  USED  TO
 SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES;
   (G) HIGHLIGHT NEW INITIATIVES AND RECOMMEND FUTURE PROGRAM NEEDS;
 S. 7637                             4
 
   (H)  MAKE  RECOMMENDATIONS ON MODEL CURRICULUM OR INSTRUCTION ON AGRI-
 CULTURAL LITERACY AND EDUCATION IN AN APPROPRIATE PLACE IN  THE  CURRIC-
 ULUM OF ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS;
   (I) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING
 LEGISLATIVE  AND REGULATORY CHANGES TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL LITERACY AND
 EDUCATION; AND
   (J) BE SHARED ANNUALLY TO THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES WITH JURISDICTION
 OVER AGRICULTURAL, EDUCATION AND LABOR POLICY.
   5. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO FUNDS APPRO-
 PRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF  AGRICULTURE  AND  MARKETS,
 AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR SUCH PURPOSES. THE DEPARTMENT MAY ACCEPT
 GRANTS  AND  DONATIONS  FROM  PUBLIC  AND PRIVATE SOURCES, INCLUDING THE
 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO PAY FOR COSTS INCURRED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND
 CONTINUANCE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S7637

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

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2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Michelle Hinchey

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7637 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments