POLICY MEETING AGENDA MARCH 10^TH 2025 7PM

OLD BUSINESS:

• DAIRY INDUSTRY BILL – A2522/S751- Forward progress on collecting more co-sponsors

Update as to next steps and event held on February 7^th at EcoComplex

• Farm Bill Hearings- House Hearing Held on March 3^rd–

Link to Bill mark ups:  https://agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/final_ffns26_titlesummaries.pdf

• Artisan Foods Council Draft Bill & Cottage Foods Bill- Cali’s working group continues with the Assemblyman’s office

NEW BUSINESS:

• WASHINGTON D.C. FLY IN – March 24,25,26th 2025- Cali is going to Washington D.C.!

Sponsored by the National Organic Coalition(NOC)- Meetings being scheduled with Senator Klobuchar, Senator Pingree, Senator Booker, Senator Kim, Senator Gottheimer, Senator Watson Coleman

Link to NOC platform:  https://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/farm-bill

• NJ Advocacy Week- Update regarding numerous meetings conducted with Asw. Haider, Asw. Peterpaul, Asw. Sweeney, Asm. Freiman- Organizations attending: NOFA NJ, NJ Food Democracy Collaborative, North RC&D, Kula Farms, Newark Beth Isreal Hospital

Update from Cali

Bills of Interest/Other policy activities:

• Composting Bill- A1872:Kennedy, James J./Stanley, Sterley S./Haider, Shama –Exempts community gardens operating on-site composting systems or other systems of managing organic waste from certain DEP permits under certain conditions

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A1872

b. Paraquat Bill- Sponsored by Asm. Tully- EWG getting requested details or revisions from Asm. Tully’s office

c. Opposition to Anti-environmental Provisions within the Farm, Food, and National

Security Act of 2026- Cali signed us on.  Sign On Letter

d. Meetings attended:

    February 12^th– In Trenton – Assembly Ag Committee meeting- New (separate)Committee

    with new members

    February 7^th – NJ Dairy and Cheese Guild first Inaugural meeting- Cali elected to Board

    of Directors for 2^nd year

    February 6^th – NOFA Interstate Council Meeting- Retreat being planned

    March 9^th– Assembly Agriculture and Natural resources meeting – Trenton – In support

    and of NOFA NJ’s continued efforts toward urban agriculture support