New York State Assembly

 
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A02185 Summary:

A02185 Actions:

A02185 Committee Votes:

Committee:AGRICULTURE   Chair:Lupardo      
DATE:03/11/2025AYE/NAY:23/0  Action: Favorable refer to committee Ways and Means        
Lupardo
Aye
Tague
Aye
Rosenthal
Aye
Blankenbush
Aye
Barrett
Aye
Hawley
Aye
Stirpe
Aye
Fitzpatrick
Aye
Woerner
Aye
Miller
Aye
Jones
Aye
Lemondes
Aye
Williams
Aye
Giglio
Aye
Buttenschon
Aye
Kelles
Aye
Septimo
Aye
Zinerman
Aye
Cruz
Aye
Cunningham
Aye
Raga
Aye
Kay
Aye
Schiavoni
Aye

Committee:WAYS AND MEANS   Chair:Pretlow      
DATE:05/27/2025AYE/NAY:32/0  Action: Favorable refer to committee Rules        
Pretlow
Aye
Ra
Aye
Glick
Aye
Fitzpatrick
Aye
Colton
Aye
Hawley
Aye
Cook
Aye
Blankenbush
Aye
Benedetto
Aye
Palmesano
Aye
Weprin
Aye
Walsh
Aye
Ramos
Aye
DeStefano
Aye
Braunstein
Aye
Manktelow
Aye
McDonald
Aye
Smullen
Aye
Rozic
Aye
Giglio
Aye
Dinowitz
Aye
Magnarelli
Aye
Bronson
Aye
Dilan
Absent
Seawright
Aye
Hyndman
Excused
Walker
Excused
Bichotte Hermel
Aye
Simon
Aye
Cruz
Aye
Otis
Aye
Solages
Aye
Hunter
Aye
Epstein
Aye
Septimo
Aye

Committee:RULES   Chair:Glick      
DATE:05/29/2025AYE/NAY:27/0  Action: Favorable         
Heastie
Excused
Barclay
Aye
Pretlow
Aye
Hawley
Aye
Cook
Aye
Blankenbush
Aye
Glick
Aye
Ra
Aye
Dinowitz
Aye
Brabenec
Aye
Colton
Aye
Palmesano
Aye
Magnarelli
Aye
Reilly
Aye
Paulin
Aye
Smith
Aye
Peoples-Stokes
Aye
Jensen
Aye
Benedetto
Aye
Lavine
Excused
Lupardo
Aye
Braunstein
Aye
Davila
Excused
Hyndman
Aye
Rozic
Excused
Bronson
Aye
Hevesi
Aye
Hunter
Aye
Taylor
Aye
Cruz
Aye
Vanel
Aye

A02185 Floor Votes:

A02185 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
 submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)



 
BILL NUMBER: A2185
 
SPONSOR: Lupardo

 
TITLE OF BILL:
 
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to defining
therapeutic agriculture for purposes of community gardens
 
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
 
The purpose of this legislation is to define therapeutic agriculture and
clarify that it is eligible for grants and other benefits which are
currently available to community gardens and their operations.
 
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
 
Section 1: Section 31-g of the Agriculture and Markets law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 7.

Section 2: Established the effective date.
 
 
JUSTIFICATION:
 
Being outdoors has long been recognized for not only its physical bene-
fits but also its mental health benefits. The Mayo Clinic health system
reports "Spending time outdoors has been shown to reduce heart rate and
muscle tension. Sunlight lowers blood pressure and increases vitamin D
levels." Being outdoors, gardening and taking part in agricultural prac-
tices such as tending crops or livestock, watering, and weeding can have
a soothing effect and ease individual stress giving those suffering with
physical or mental health conditions, disability, or other special needs
an opportunity to tend to their body, mind and spirit.
 
This bill defines therapeutic agriculture as the use of agricultural
activities, including fanning, gardening, and animal husbandry, as a
means of promoting physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, rehabili-
tation, and therapy for individuals with physical or mental health
conditions, disabilities or other special needs.
 
By putting the definition of therapeutic agriculture into law, organiza-
tions looking to deliver this form of therapy to those experiencing
physical or mental health condition, disability, or other special needs,
will have access to greater resources through state grants and programs.
 
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
 
Formerly A-9227 of 2024, died in Ways and Means.
 
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
 
This legislation will have no fiscal implications for State or Local
governments.
 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

A02185 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          2185
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    January 15, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. LUPARDO, STIRPE, RAGA, ROSENTHAL, GLICK, ZACCARO,
          ANGELINO,  DiPIETRO,  BENDETT, MANKTELOW, K. BROWN, TAGUE -- read once
          and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
 
        AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to defining
          therapeutic agriculture for purposes of community gardens

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1. Section 31-g of the agriculture and markets law is amended
     2  by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
     3    7. "Therapeutic agriculture" shall mean the use of agricultural activ-
     4  ities, including farming, gardening, and animal husbandry, as a means of
     5  promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being, rehabilitation, and
     6  therapy for individuals with physical or mental health conditions, disa-
     7  bilities or other special needs.
     8    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD00468-01-5