S.B. 1259 Summary

• Establishes the Land Dedication for Agricultural Education program requiring real estate developers to dedicate land for agricultural education programs serving grades kindergarten through twelve as a condition of development project approval.

• Mandates the Department of Education to develop and implement agricultural education curricula including school gardens, farm-to-school programs, sustainable farming practices, and indigenous agricultural knowledge, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture.

• Creates a Land Dedication Special Fund to receive legislative appropriations, gifts, donations, and grants to support innovative agricultural projects proposed by students and educators.

• Requires the Department of Education to consult with the Department of Taxation on tax incentives for developers and the Attorney General on penalties for violations of land dedication requirements.

• Appropriates unspecified sums from general revenues and the special fund for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to establish and operate the program, effective July 1, 2025.