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Committee hears bill to study and expand community gardens, urban farms
Summary
Assembly Bill 405 would direct the Council on Food Security to study the statewide landscape and identify locations for community gardens and urban farms, with a report due by Dec. 1, 2026; sponsors said prior fiscal notes were removed after agreement on language.
Assembly Bill 405 was presented to the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means as a measure to expand support for community gardens, urban farms and food-desert interventions.
Assemblymember Tanya Flanagan (Assembly District 7), the bill sponsor, told the committee AB 405 "expands legislation supporting the development of community gardens and urban farms and food deserts." She said a previously identified fiscal note of $165,466 for a program officer over the biennium, placed by the Department of Agriculture, had been removed after working with the department.
Director Goicoechea of the Nevada Department of Agriculture testified that the sponsor and the department reached agreement on language that would remove the need for a dedicated program officer. The amended language directs the Council on Food Security (created by NRS 232.4966) to conduct a study during the 2025–26 interim to evaluate statewide needs and identify locations where community gardens and urban farms could be developed, and to prepare a written report on or before Dec. 1, 2026 for transmittal to the 80th Legislative Session.
Supporters including the Nevada Farm Bureau, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, 3 Square Food Bank and representatives of the University of Nevada, Reno testified in favor of the bill. Witnesses told the committee they were pleased the fiscal note had been addressed and look forward to participating in the networking and planning work.
No opponents testified in person or by phone during the hearing and the committee closed the hearing after sponsor declined closing remarks.
If adopted, AB 405 would charge the Council on Food Security with a statewide interim study and require a report to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2026; sponsor testimony and the department's statements removed the department's fiscal note for the bill.
