A bill to help North Carolina's small-scale farmers will move onto the state Senate after House lawmakers approved the legislation this afternoon.
But whether senators will give final approval to the bill is unknown. Senate and House leadership are debating when to end the legislative session; state Senators want to leave this week, even as early as today, while House representatives are willing to continue the session into next week. It is unclear if this bill will get final approval before the Senate leaves.
The legislation creates a 27-member body tasked with studying how to increase local foods served in public schools, how to make local foods available to people receiving public assistance, whether food stamps can be used at farmers markets and how to encourage community and backyard gardening.
The local food advisory council will have to report on its progress next October.
