Encouraging the purchase of food produced in this state, creating goals and a preference in state procurement for food produced in this state, and creating a council

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Current law generally authorizes state agencies to contract for services under certain circumstances. With some exceptions, orders or contracts must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. This bill requires state entities, if their expenditures on food are greater than $25,000 per fiscal year, to attempt to ensure that, before 2020, of the total amount expended for food per fiscal year, at least 10 percent is spent on food products that are grown, processed, packaged, and distributed in this state and to ensure that, beginning in 2020, of the total amount expended for food per fiscal year, at least 20 percent is spent on food products that are grown, processed, packaged, and distributed in this state. To accomplish these goals, this bill creates an exception to the lowest responsible bidder requirement by allowing state entities to accept a bid or proposal from a vendor selling local food products that is no more than 10 percent higher than the apparent low bid or most advantageous proposal.

This bill also creates a Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. It requires the council to undertake various activities designed to increase the in-state purchase of food products that are grown, processed, packaged, and distributed in this state. These activities include encouraging entities that receive funding from this state and that spend more than $25,000 per year on food for their students, residents, or clients to spend at least 10 percent of their food budgets on food grown, processed, packaged, and distributed in this state.

Who's behind it

14 representatives are its authors⁠. All 14 are Democrats.

5 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From DOA
• ASA1-AB782: Fiscal Estimate From DATCP

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment ASA1-AB782
• Amendment AA1-ASA1-AB782
• LC Amendment Memo