2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26103814D

HOUSE BILL NO. 869

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-4323.2, relating to Virginia Public Procurement Act; purchase programs for local farm or food products.

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Patron—Cousins

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Referred to Committee on General Laws

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-4323.2 as follows:

§ 2.2-4323.2. Purchase programs for local farm or food products.

A. As used in this section, "local farm or food products" means products (i) grown in the Commonwealth or (ii) processed and packaged in the Commonwealth, using at least one ingredient grown in the Commonwealth.

B. In order to create, strengthen, and expand local farm and food economies throughout the Commonwealth, all state agencies shall implement a purchase program for local farm or food products in order to reach a goal by 2035 of 20 percent of all the food and food products purchased by state agencies being local farm or food products.

C. For any public body partially or wholly funded by the Commonwealth, in which the total contract cost for food or food products is in excess of $25,000 per year, such public body shall implement a purchase program for local farm or food products in order to reach a goal by 2035 of 10 percent of all the food and food products purchased by such public bodies being local farm or food products.

D. To meet the goals set forth in subsections B and C, when a contract for the purchase of food or food products is to be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, an otherwise qualified bidder who will fulfill the contract through the use of local farm or food products may be given preference over other bidders, provided that the cost included in the bid for the local farm or food products is not more than 10 percent greater than the cost included in the bid that is not for local farm or food products.

E. All state agencies that purchase food and food products shall develop a system to identify the percentage of local farm and food products purchased, and shall report such findings along with a description of any additional supports needed to achieve procurement goals to the General Assembly, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Department of Education by December 1, 2026, and annually thereafter.