Delegation approves bill requiring Montgomery schools to track and increase local food procurement

Chair Foley presented MC7‑26, a bill directing the Montgomery County Public School system to identify, for a baseline school year, the dollar amount of food procured from local farms and sources certified for Chesapeake Bay restoration, and to set target increases for specified future school years.

"Basically, what this bill does is it requires the public school system to identify the dollar amount of food procured for local meals ... that is certified as coming from local farms and certified Chesapeake Bay invasive species," Chair Foley said in explaining the measure. The chair reported that county executives sent a letter supporting the bill and that Montgomery County Public Schools attended the meeting and did not object.

The bill was moved favorable by Chair Foley and seconded; the delegation voted and the chair announced the motion passed favorably among those recorded.

The bill's requirements include using the identified baseline to set incremental targets for procurement for the 2028–2037 school years (specific school‑year ranges were enumerated during the committee report). Chair Foley said the local council had not yet taken a formal position but that county leadership supported a favorable report.

Next steps: MC7‑26 will proceed as a favorable local bill from the delegation and, if adopted, will require MCPS to report baseline procurement and future targets as specified in the draft language.