Education (Agriculture)

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.

Allows students attending agricultural learning events to be counted as in attendance at school; defines "agricultural learning events" as including FFA events and 4-H programs.

Allows students attending agricultural learning events to be counted as in attendance at school; defines "agricultural learning events" as including FFA events and 4-H programs.

S 1474 requires all public elementary, middle, and high schools (state-controlled or state-funded) to include agriculture instruction starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates teaching topics like food origins, farm-to-market processes, sustainability, resource conservation, rural culture, and agricultural careers. This instruction must be approved by both the Education and Agriculture departments and can integrate with science, math, history, or business courses.

This bill requires all state-controlled or state-supported elementary, middle, and high schools to include agriculture instruction starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It directly affects students and school districts by mandating curriculum covering food origins, farm-to-market processes, sustainability, resource management, textile production, and agricultural careers. Key provisions include requiring courses approved by both the Education and Agriculture departments, integrating topics like water/land conservation and rural community culture, and allowing connections to science and business classes. The instruction aims to help students understand food systems and agricultural practices through concrete, hands-on learning.