New York Farm Bureau Releases State Legislative Priorities for 2026

New York Farm Bureau Releases State Legislative Priorities for 2026

Albany, NY - New York Farm Bureau (NYFB) today announces its state legislative priorities for 2026. These priorities are based on grassroots policy development over the course of the past year, which culminated at the organization's State Annual Meeting earlier this month. Delegates from 50 counties discussed and voted on a number of wide-ranging issues at the meeting. NYFB public policy staff identified NYFB's priority issues as those listed below.

• Support critical funding for current agricultural animal health, promotion, research, and environmental programs in the final FY 26/27 state budget.
• Support for a significant funding investment in the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Science to forward its mission of collegiate agricultural education, research, and extension.
• Extend the refundable investment tax credit and allow construction costs for farmworker housing to be eligible for the tax credit.
• Move the administration of product marketing and research orders from Empire State Development to the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
• Remove the requirement for overtime payment on the weekly consecutive 24-hour rest period when total work hours are still below the overtime threshold.
• Support legislation that would develop a Clean Fuel Standard.
• Support funding for the NY Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health to do research and promote education on temperature-related working conditions before any legislation (such as the Temperature Extreme Mitigation Program Act) is passed.
• Support the exemption of agricultural businesses from Extended Producer Responsibility legislation until a cost-effective and practical agricultural recycling program is established and funded by the state.
• Support mandating that fire, rescue, library, and other ad valorem taxing districts use agricultural assessment values when calculating property taxes.
• Support renewable energy policies that incorporate common-sense timeframes for adoption based upon grid capacity and support for the use of other energy sources including nuclear. Strongly oppose all-electric mandates and bans on the use of propane, wood burning, oil, or natural gas appliances.
• NYFB will release federal legislative priorities by early spring.

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New York Farm Bureau is the state's largest agricultural lobbying/trade organization. Its members and the public know the organization as "The Voice of New York Agriculture." New York Farm Bureau is dedicated to solving the economic and public policy issues challenging the agricultural community.