Committee approves hearing on study to weigh prison food contracts, waste and vocational farms

Assembly member Venisha Considine told the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Oct. 27 that Assembly Bill 246, as amended, would convert an initial statute‑level proposal into a one‑year study of food services and related programs at Nevada Department of Corrections facilities.

"The goal of AB246 is to improve this system, to provide better food options, cut down on food waste, ensure nutritional standards, and to create vocational farms at facilities that can support those to supplement diets with fresh food while providing education and experience to those incarcerated," Considine said.

Under the concept presented, the study would require a request for proposals (RFP) that captures the full cost of current food service and the cost of an upgraded menu so legislators can compare nutrition and cost. The RFP would be sent broadly, including nonprofit entities and participants in the Good Food Purchasing Program. The study would require tracking deviations from the approved menu and measuring the weight of food waste, and include a 90‑day pilot in which incarcerated people can select menu options with concurrent surveys of those participants.

The amended language would also limit any recontracting with a current vendor during the study to a maximum two‑year term, and would direct the Department of Corrections to adopt regulations for regular inspections of food service by a registered dietitian who is not an employee of the department or affiliated with a vendor. To the extent funding is available, the bill also asks the department to establish vocational farm programs where practical.

Department of Corrections Director James Zurenda told the committee the current food service contract expires in March 2026 and that contract terms and price determine the quality of food the vendor can deliver: “If we pay more, we’ll get more.” He said monthly reviews occur with the vendor and noted options such as 90‑day cycles and pick‑your‑menu pilots are feasible without extra cost in some cases.

Advocates and service organizations provided extensive testimony in support. Nick Shepack of the Fines and Fees Justice Center highlighted commissary spending figures and the health consequences of processed commissary items, saying the center found about $14,000,000 in yearly commissary sales and roughly 1,900,000 packets of instant ramen sold in a single year. Return Strong and the ACLU of Nevada urged the committee to pursue the study to address reported spoilage, portion issues, menu substitutions and food‑safety concerns. Several family members and people with lived experience recounted meals they described as insufficient in quantity or quality.

The Department of Corrections described longstanding equipment and kitchen maintenance needs across facilities and said some repairs have been made with ARPA funds; Director Zurenda said additional equipment work will depend on future funding.

Sponsors described the shift from an original bill proposing immediate operational changes to the current study approach as deliberate: they said cost, implementation logistics and health outcomes require data before broad operational changes or procurement decisions. The committee did not take a final vote on AB246 at this hearing; sponsors said they would continue stakeholder discussions and incorporate additional technical edits.