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Building Bold Futures: Key Themes for 2025 State Legislatures

Building Bold Futures: Key Themes for 2025 State Legislatures

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No matter who holds power at the federal level, the majority of policymaking happens in the states. In many states, legislators have spent years working to beat back Project 2025 priorities that extremists are actively field-testing. But defensive work alone won’t win us the future. We must also build a bold affirmative vision that centers care for working families and advances justice in all states– in all constituencies and all communities — rural, urban, and suburban.

SiX is dedicated to empowering state legislators to lead boldly with their communities and make transformative changes. We have a decade of success supporting state legislators by addressing their governing needs and helping them organize with their communities.

After the election, SiX invited legislators from our network to share their priorities for the 2025 legislative session. Legislators shared plans spanning diverse political contexts, including harm reduction through community-based approaches, strengthening bipartisan relationships, and bold initiatives on racial equity, immigrant justice, reproductive rights, taxes, climate change, worker power, and anti-monopoly reform.

And at SiX’s National Conference in December 2024, state legislators and movement leaders reflected on what the election results mean for the future of state governance and discussed the work ahead in the mainstage panel, “Election Reflections and Charting a Path Forward Together.” You can watch the plenary here.

As we prepare for 2025 state legislative sessions, here are trends we’re anticipating:

Economic Justice

Building economic power for working families is essential to all of our organizing power efforts. These must center racial, gender, and immigrant justice while building class solidarity across racial and ethnic lines, immigration status, and geographies. In doing so, we’re strengthening a common thread through all topics and communities: economic justice.

Progressive economic policy measures won across the country this election, from paid leave to raising the wage, to the right to organize, abortion rights, and getting big money out of our politics. Efforts to roll back our progress failed too– voters protected public education in every state with a private school voucher measure on the ballot. Similarly, efforts to repeal state capital gains tax and climate programs also failed. With these electoral victories, we’re anticipating legislators will feel emboldened to introduce additional progressive economic policy measures.

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States are the frontlines for building worker power and protecting consumers from corporate monopolies rigging the economy to their advantage. They’ve protected workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain, leveraged public dollars to build a good-jobs economy, stopped anti-competitive corporate mergers and safeguarded workers and consumers from abusive AI, junk fees, and non-compete agreements. But there are still countless opportunities for state legislators to build economies that advance tangible gains for working families, empowering them to pass local laws that meet their needs and defend local freedoms.

Budgets are an essential responsibility of state legislators. Every year, legislatures approve trillions in public spending. Budgets also reflect a state's values and priorities, and can be a powerful tool to advance justice and secure meaningful, material gains for working families. State budgets were already expected to face shortfalls in 2025 as pandemic-era federal dollars conclude, and automatic tax cuts threaten state budgets. However, with the advancing Trump administration, the possibility of completely eliminating federal public programs, grants, and jobs is real– alongside a punitive federal government that could target and scapegoat states that don’t align with the federal agenda.

For a deeper dive into how federal and state budgets interact with each other and how states can lead in 2025, legislators and staff are invited to the “State Budgets: Threats and Opportunities in 2025” briefing on January 23, 1-2 pm. Organized with the Center for Budget & Policy Priorities, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, and the State Revenue Alliance, this meeting will overview federal and state budget interactions, contributions to state budgets, and the influence of legislators in enacting tax solutions for public education, healthcare, childcare, and retirement access for working families.

Register Here

Reproductive Rights

As the states approach the third anniversary of Roe v. Wade's reversal, legislatures are gearing up to debate laws that either broaden or restrict access to abortion and reproductive health care. States with strong safeguards for reproductive rights are proposing measures to protect patients and healthcare providers should the new administration roll back abortion policies even further. We anticipate states in more progressive climates to safeguard contraception, medication abortion, and telehealth, as well as introduce further protections to guarantee the right to make reproductive healthcare choices free from government intrusion.

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Meanwhile, states with abortion bans are advancing proposals such as fetal personhood laws (a radical legal doctrine that seeks to endow fertilized eggs, embryos, and fetuses with full rights and legal protections), penalties for abortion pill use, and other restrictive measures. After Louisiana passed a law last year classifying mifepristone and misoprostol controlled substances, other states, like Texas, are introducing similar measures.

Restrictive measures aren’t simply targeted at abortion access. The state legislators seeking to restrict abortion access are setting their sights on limiting access to minors, whether through constraining travel for health care, including gender-affirming care or imposing unnecessary parental notification.

And still, other states are prioritizing improving maternal healthcare, especially for communities of color and rural populations. Michigan's Senate advanced the "Momnibus" package to address maternal health disparities, including a bill requiring reports of obstetric racism and another protecting reproductive health data. In Virginia, lawmakers plan to expand Medicaid and offer remote monitoring for high-risk rural patients. Kentucky is pushing for postpartum insurance coverage, diversifying medical teams, and increasing access to doulas, while California proposes reimbursing alternative birth centers under Medicaid. Texas is considering initiatives to combat its "maternity care deserts," where nearly half of counties lack maternity services, exacerbating pregnancy complications.

Legislators and legislative staff are invited to join us for our next Rapid Response Room meeting – a virtual space for state lawmakers and staff to collaborate as they work on reproductive health, rights, and justice laws in their states on January 13, 12 pm. Professor Zakia Luna PhD, MSW will be discussing reproductive rights as human rights. Register here.

Register Here

Rural, Agriculture & Food Systems

State and federal agriculture and environmental policies are deeply interconnected. States rely heavily on federal funding for climate, agriculture, and food and nutrition programs. A Trump administration alongside a Republican-controlled Congress could lead to significant changes in federal policies, which would directly affect state budgets and state programs.

A Trump administration may prioritize deregulation, cut critical programs, and shift focus to market-driven solutions. This could result in looser environmental protections, such as easing restrictions on industrial animal agriculture, pesticide use, and water quality standards; consolidation of the agriculture sector, benefiting large corporate agribusinesses at the expense of family farms, rural communities, and the environment; and volatility in trade policies and tariffs, creating instability in agricultural markets, potentially increasing costs and reducing export opportunities for farmers.

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While federal cuts and policy shifts could present significant challenges, many states have already built the foundations for resilient and sustainable local food systems and healthy rural communities, and we have no doubt that legislators will continue advocating for these solutions to protect the people living in communities that they represent.

States are moving forward with climate-resilient policies to promote regenerative agriculture, soil health, and agro voltaics (solar-powered farming). This will support farmers and ranchers to implement practices that are good for the climate. Similarly, local food infrastructure and procurement policies have been supporting rural economic development, ensuring food security and benefiting independent family farms, and farmer equity programs in many states have resulted in legislators and farmers working together to ensure that the unique barriers farmers of color face are addressed through policy and programs.

Join us in driving real change. Watch and share this video on SiX’s agriculture and food systems work today!

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NEW VIDEO: SiX's Agriculture and Food Systems Program

NEW VIDEO: SiX's Agriculture and Food Systems Program

Our rural, agriculture, and food systems programming is a cornerstone of the work that we do here at SiX.

In this new video, Kendra Kimbirauskas, senior director of agriculture & food systems talks about the importance of this work and why state legislators have the opportunity to be leaders in advancing rural, agriculture, and food systems policy that not only is good for people, the planet, rural communities and animals, but also advances economic and reproductive justice and our democratic values.

State lawmakers can be powerful advocates for change, and this video highlights the importance of their leadership in advancing a more just and sustainable future for everyone.

Video by: No Sudden Movements.

Legislators, Indigenous Leaders, and Advocates Gather for First Ever Coastal Convening on Sustainable Aquaculture

Legislators, Indigenous Leaders, and Advocates Gather for First Ever Coastal Convening on Sustainable Aquaculture

By: Emma Newton

In July, legislators from across the country traveled to Seattle for a special three-day convening on sustainable aquaculture, working waterfronts, and tribal food sovereignty. Twenty-two state legislators from coastal states gathered with international advocates, experts, and Tribal Leaders for the first of its kind gathering hosted by the SiX’s Agriculture and Food Systems Program in partnership with Don’t Cage Our Oceans (DCO2). The event aimed to spark dynamic conversations, foster collaboration, and champion the protection of ocean economies and natural resources.

Group picture on the beach of the SiX aquaculture convening

A Grand Opening: Culture, Community, and Celebration

The convening kicked off on Friday evening with an opening dinner. Attendees were warmly welcomed by Chairwoman Cecile Hansen of the Duwamish Tribe and SiX Co-Executive Director Neha Patel, who set the tone for the event by emphasizing movement building, collaborative governance and joy.

Yakima Tribal member Christina White of Native Candies, who’s husband personally fished for the salmon on the Klickitat River that was served at dinner, shared the meaningful story behind the meal. The evening was made even more special with a traditional song from a Yakima Elder, creating a sense of unity and gratitude among attendees.

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Eating and relationship building at coastal convening

Diving Deep: Discussions at the Duwamish Longhouse

Throughout the weekend, the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center in West Seattle served as the meeting space where attendees engaged in thought-provoking presentations and discussions. Topics ranged from the threats posed by industrial finfish farming to ocean economies and resources, to the power and influence of corporate entities. Catalina Cendoya of the Global Salmon Farming Resistance  shared insights on successful community organizing efforts against corporate fish farms in Latin America, where she stressed the strategic partnership between community leaders, chefs and policymakers. 

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A Journey to the Suquamish Nation

A highlight of the convening was a visit to the Suquamish Nation, where Tribal scientists and leaders showcased their innovative work in protecting the geoduck and developing a sustainable tribal-led seafood economy. Attendees visited the tribe’s oyster beds and salmon hatchery, and savored a delicious geoduck ceviche snack prepared by Tribal Council Member and fisherman Jay Mills.

Scenes from coastal convening

Stories from the Waterfront

The final day of the convening was marked by an enlightening visit to Seattle’s bustling working waterfront. Policymakers and advocates heard firsthand accounts from independent fishermen at the Fisherman’s Terminal. The spectacle of “flying fish” as the St. Jude, an independent fishing vessel, docked to sell freshly caught tuna, gave attendees a real-world glimpse into life on a fishing boat. 

The convening wrapped up with a compelling presentation from Gideon Mordecai, a fisheries scientist from British Columbia, who shared the science behind the impacts of industrial aquaculture. The event concluded with a picturesque lunch on the shore of the sound, leaving attendees inspired to return home and engage with their communities on these issues.

Waterfront

Building Bridges for a Shared Vision

Throughout the weekend, state policymakers forged meaningful connections and began exploring innovative ways to collaborate with local and international advocates and Indigenous communities. Together, they envisioned a future where ocean economies and natural resources are protected and celebrated.

A participant and Hawai’i state legislator reflected on the experience: “I am used to union organizing, where we are very explicit about expectations around connecting and growing power, collecting ‘data’ and evidence on our effectiveness in that regard. Now, I am thinking about how this translates into change-making in my own context. For policymakers to truly experience that additional level of connectedness, we need opportunities to act in support of each other and a shared vision.”

The Coastal Convening on Sustainable Aquaculture marked the beginning of a powerful movement towards a more sustainable and equitable future for our oceans and the communities that depend on them.

Middle-Out Economics: Communicating Policies The Empower Workers

Middle-Out Economics: Communicating Policies The Empower Workers

SiX and the Rural Democracy Initiative co-sponsored a webinar on new polling from the Winning Jobs Narrative Project, a working people-centered narrative architecture for talking about jobs, work, and the economy that resonates across race, geography, and issues.

Following an ambitious research agenda, the Winning Jobs Narrative team has developed a narrative architecture that progressive advocates and leaders can draw from to frame a broad range of issues.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization SiX works in close coordination with legislators, advocacy groups, think tanks, and activists to provide the tools and information legislators need to be successful. SiX’s resources are free of charge to state legislators and staff.

Iowa Farmers and State Legislators say Keep Koch Industries Out

Iowa Farmers and State Legislators say Keep Koch Industries Out

By Ida V. Eskamani and Kendra Kimbirauskas

“Farmers were really on the frontlines fighting back in history…. Antitrust laws of the past were really designed to make sure our markets were open, fair, and competitive. In the same way we were rejecting monarchs in our political sphere, we were also rejecting monopolies in our commercial and economic sphere. Ultimately consolidation of power was seen as a threat, whether it be in the political or economic sphere.” -FTC Chair Lina Khan, opening remarks 

In Iowa this time of the year, if the weather is decent, farmers will be on their tractors planting crops. But on a windy spring day this past weekend, over 100 Midwesterns impacted by agriculture paused their planting to join their neighbors and other farmers from across Iowa and the Midwest to welcome the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair, Lina Khan to Nevada, Iowa. 

The listening session was organized by SiX in collaboration with Iowa State Representatives J.D. Scholten, Elinor Levin, and Megan Srinivas, who have been champions for Iowa’s independent family farmers, and the Iowa Farmers Union (IFU). The intent of the event was for farmers to share with the Chair what the multinational corporation Koch Industries’ recent acquisition of Iowa Fertilizer Company means for their farms, families, and futures. For more background on the potential merger, click here.

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Photo by Kendra Kimbirauskas, State Innovation Exchange.

In December 2023, the Dutch chemical company OCI Global announced the $3.6 billion sale of Iowa Fertilizer Company to Koch Industries. Koch Industries is one of the largest multinational companies in the world, their influence deeply felt in America’s economy and democracy. If they are allowed to buy the Iowa Fertilizer Company it will merge with one of its five domestic competitors and gain further dominance in the U.S. fertilizer market. This merger is cause for a lot of concern for many Iowa farmers, which they shared with Chair Khan.

At the event, the farmers’ testimony was powerful with details of how corporate consolidation is impacting their bottom line more and more each year.  Many described grim situations such as when commodity prices increase and they receive a better price for their crops, their suppliers would also raise the costs for fertilizer, soil amendments, and supplies. 

Dwindling competition is driving up prices and making it impossible for young farmers to compete against monopolies that leverage state policy towards an unfair advantage via incentives, deregulation and rising costs. One farmer shared that she was extremely worried that due to the continued rising costs she and her husband would have nothing to pass on to her sons who wanted to farm. As an example, she shared that last year her family spent $20,000 on new tractor tires, the same amount of money that her parents had paid for 80 acres of prime farmland in the 1960s. 

IFU President Aaron Heley Lehman provided an overview of the lay-of-the land of the future of Iowa agriculture and shared that he believed the acquisition of Iowa Fertilizer to the multinational Koch Industries would harm the future of Iowa’s farming families and rural communities because Iowa farmers would continue to be squeezed by their suppliers. 

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew traveled to the event from West Virginia and shared that what is happening in Iowa is a microcosm for what NFU farmers and ranchers have been up-against across the country as less competition in the market is making it increasingly difficult for farmers and ranchers to survive. He reminded the group that capitalism without competition is exploitation. 

Iowa state legislators stood with farmers and community members in expressing unease over the potential merger. In traveling his district, Rep. Scholten shared that concerns about lack of competition in agriculture is one of the top worries that Iowa farmer constituents share with him. He said that monopolistic behavior by agribusiness companies is squeezing both farmers and consumers in his district, making in increasingly difficult for the next generation to be able get into agriculture at a time when a significant portion of Iowa’s farmland will be changing hands over the next ten years as the average age of Iowa’s farmers is nearly 60 years old. 

Other officials attending the event with Chair Khan included former Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who was the longest serving Attorney General in United States history and Iowa Farm Service Agency Executive Director Matt Russel who farms with his husband in Marion County, Iowa.   

Chair Khan expressed her gratitude to SiX and our partners for organizing the listening session and providing a forum for the farmers to share their stories, views and experiences. She said that the information gleaned from the event in Iowa would be used to help the FTC determine if they would challenge the merger. 

Before the listening session, event organizers hosted Chair Khan for a local farm tour– so she could see firsthand the impact corporate consolidation has on small and large farms alike. 

The FTC is an essential federal agency, tasked with enforcing the nation’s antitrust and consumer protection laws. As Chair of the FTC, Lina Khan has reinvigorated antitrust in the country, prioritizing competition in the economy and fairness for consumers, workers, and local businesses. Under Chair Khan’s leadership, the agency has taken on corporate giants– from monopolies in agriculture, tech companies, grocery chains, healthcare, and private equity. 

FTC Panel
From left to right: IA Rep. Elinor Levin, IA Rep. Megan Srinivas, IA Rep. J.D. Scholten, FTC Chair Lina Khan, IFU President Aaron Heley Lehman, and NFU President Rob Larew. Photo by Kendra Kimbirauskas, State Innovation Exchange.

To learn more about SiX’s agriculture and economic justice work, click here and here.

Black Women Legislators Leading in Agriculture Policy

Historically, agricultural policy has been made in spaces dominated by rural land-owning, white, male, and conservative voices. That includes state legislatures, where fewer than five percent of legislators are Black women. Far too often, there are limited opportunities for Black women legislators to be at the forefront of policy conversations in agriculture or related legislative committees. That has to change. 

SiX hosted this panel with four Black women state legislators who are leading the conversation to address the vast injustices that have been endured by Black and brown communities in the field of agriculture. Hear about their work to make agriculture more inclusive and change who gets to pass agriculture policy. 

Panelists:

SiX Takeaways:

  1. For generations, agriculture policy impacting Black, brown, and Indigenous communities has been made in rural white, male-dominated spaces. But Black women legislators are stepping into leadership roles on agriculture committees and creating change in the urban and rural communities they represent.
  1. Agriculture is the biggest industry in many states, yet progressives too often don’t prioritize it. Policy-making in the agriculture industry is a huge concern for Black, brown, and Indigenous communities. Everyone eats — so we all have to care about food access, where our food comes from, and how it’s being handled. Much of that work starts at the state level.
  1. In many Black and brown communities, farming has been gentrified, monopolized, and appropriated — and the same is true in agriculture committees. The farming practices in the farm-to-table and regenerative agriculture movements have origins in Afro and Indigenous communities and cultures. Despite this, many of the issues Black and brown communities face are not reflected in agriculture and food policy-making. 
  1. Agriculture policy is at the intersection of many other issues in Black and brown communities, including equity, racism, economics, and health. The future of Black and brown communities depends on agriculture in many ways. Agriculture is the number one job producer in some states and effective and equitable agriculture policy is a way for Black and brown communities to create jobs and build a sustainable economy while providing healthy food for community members. 
  1. Black women legislators have had to work for years to  educate white-male-dominated agriculture committees about the agricultural issues impacting their communities and to center Black and brown voices. For some, this education (about food deserts, urban farming, food access issues, and so much more) has laid the foundation to be able to tackle issues like race and equity when working toward policy solutions.
  1. There are many opportunities for Black women legislators to engage in agriculture policy issues that impact their communities. The panelists encouraged others to fight to be on the committees that oversee agriculture policy in their states. These legislators are disrupting the space and centering the voices and needs of their Black and brown communities while doing it. Join SiX’s CROP and Democracy cohorts for support along the way.  

Additional Resources: 

Agriculture is Not Just A Rural Issue

This interview is based on responses from a tweet chat that took place on April 28, 2021. Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

What experiences shaped your understanding of the importance of agriculture?

Sen. Kim Jackson (GA): As a sixth-generation Black farmer, I think about agriculture every day when I do farm chores! I raise goats, bees, ducks, and chickens and all kinds of vegetables. And, I eat food every day! 

Rep. Brian Turner (NC): My grandma grew up in the mountain border of North Carolina & Tennessee. Raising livestock & planting row crops were a way of life for her. I’m grateful she passed those skills to me, and now I get to pass it on to my daughter growing our own veggies in the backyard.

Rep. Rebecca Mitchell (GA): At first: a square baler without a kicker. Loading 50- and 100-pound feed sacks at the mill. Outdoor water spigots in the winter in New York. Fiberglass fence posts (never. ever. again). 

Later: working at the dairy farm next door. Fitting sheep at shows. 

Professionally: ambulatory rotations in veterinary school and analyzing milk quality and pathogens from dairy farms.

Rep. Julie von Haefen (NC): Growing up in Iowa, I saw firsthand how agriculture can be an integral part of the economy, our community and our environment. My house was on the edge of a cornfield and detasseling corn was the premier summer job for teenagers!

Cow in large pen on farm in Indiana

Agriculture issues range from food insecurity to soil health—what are some of the agriculture issues in your district?

Sen. Natalie Murdock (NC): Food insecurity is an issue in my senate district. 16.5% of people in my county are food insecure, that’s over 45,000 people. Over 12,000 children are food insecure.

Rep. Julie von Haefen (NC): We don’t have a lot of farms, but urban agriculture is becoming more important! Urban farming is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around urban areas—an important tool to ensure our communities have access to fresher and healthier foods! 

Sen. Rosemary Bayer (MI): My district spans a wide array of urban, suburban and rural areas. While we don’t have much farming in the district anymore, soil as a vital living system is important to all of us. From large rural farms to urban gardens, we all need healthy soil! Constituents all over the state & my district suffer from food insecurity and Covid has only made this worse. In addition to sustainable farming across the state, local sustainable urban and suburban gardens can help with food insecurity.

Sen. Kim Jackson (GA): In District 41, like many places in Georgia, people struggle with food insecurity. And for folks growing food in the city—often to address this very issue!—there can be many roadblocks. 

I'm encouraged by efforts to bring fresh food to more people and support new growers. We need collaboration across sectors—and at all levels of government!—to decrease barriers to healthy food and urban agriculture. 

Agriculture and the environment go hand in hand.
Rep. Julie von Haefen Twitter Photo
North Carolina State Rep. Julie von Haefen
Tweet

Tell us about an agriculture, food, or rural issue you are working on in your state.

Sen. Kim Jackson (GA): I serve on the Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee. I'm working to support Black farmers across the state of Georgia and bring fresh, healthy food to those who need it most.

Rep. Brian Turner (NC): As a member of the Ag appropriations committee I’m working to make sure the preservation programs are funded and also fighting for improved broadband penetration so farmers can modernize, be more efficient, and so kids know they can farm and be connected. 

Sen. Kirk deViere (NC): I’ve been fortunate enough to connect with veterans who have turned to farming as a career and therapy for post-military life. We have a responsibility to help and encourage small family farms that have been the cornerstone of North Carolina’s agricultural economy for generations. I’d like to see veteran farmers as a substantial part of those small farms.

A Vendor is Selling Produce at Farmers Market in Clayton, North Carolina
A farmer's market in Clayton, North Carolina

How can agriculture be part of the solution to climate change?

Sen. Kirk deViere (NC): Incentivizing sustainable farming and regenerative agriculture is not only a smart long-term policy decision for farmers, but it’s much better for our environment as well. To be successful, agriculture must be a significant focus of climate justice.

Sen. Natalie Murdock (NC): As a previous soil and water supervisor, I know how soil health is key to combating climate change. Here in North Carolina we continue to work on robust soil health plans and need to fund regenerative agriculture programs.

Rep. Brian Turner (NC): Farmers love the land they work and want to keep it healthy so they can grow our food. Creating incentives to reduce fertilizers, stormwater runoff, and adopt more efficient irrigation tech helps. For more about local food growers visit the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Remember, what you put into the air and ground travels. It’s never just about our own gardens or backyards. We are a world community.

What do you wish more people knew about agriculture?

Rep. Julie von Haefen (NC): Agriculture and the environment go hand in hand. We must pay attention to how our North Carolina hog and poultry farms are operating and affecting the communities around them, and how they may be harmful to water and air. 

Creating policy that benefits and protects both agriculture and the environment is important.

Sen. Kirk deViere (NC): One common misconception about agriculture is that all farmers are white. This couldn’t be further from the truth. As of 2017, North Carolina had nearly 2,100 black producers. We rely on minority farmers, namely Black farmers.

Rep. Brian Turner (NC): Agriculture is the #1 driver of North Carolina’s economy. We are #1 in the U.S. in sweet potatoes and soybeans, #2 in hogs. 

Agriculture is bipartisan with rural and urban support. Most North Carolina farms are small family operations hoping the next generation will take over. We have a duty to help. No farms, no food.

Farmworker picking yellow peppers on agriculture field

How can people engage with agriculture issues beyond Earth Month?

Rep. Julie von Haefen: Contact your state legislators and sign up for our legislative updates! Sharing your priorities with your elected officials goes a long way towards advancing sound environmental and agricultural policies.

Sen. Kirk deViere (NC): If you live in North Carolina, you likely interact with agriculture much more than you realize. After all, agriculture is our #1 industry! It’s up to us to make sure that we continue to support the agricultural industry while fighting climate change.

Sen. Rosemary Bayer (MI): We all need to be conscious of good environmental practices – in pest management, water management, air and soil health and more.  Remember, what you put into the air and ground travels. It’s never just about our own gardens or backyards. We are a world community. We have one planet and we need to work together to protect not only our own land, state and country, but our entire planet. 

Farmer Equity Act: A Policy to Improve Access for Farmers of Color

Historically, farmers and ranchers who are Black, Indigenous or people of color have faced systemic discrimination from state and federal agriculture institutions.

Racist policies have resulted in farmers of color being denied access to capital and ultimately losing land while historically being underserved by government agencies. These policies have created a ripple impact over the decades and have resulted in farmers of color not receiving the same resources as their white counterparts. In the 1990s, the United States Department of Agriculture recognized socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as an officially distinct category. While this effort was a step in the right direction, for many farmers of color state agency resources remain unobtainable. In an effort to better serve their farmers of color, advocates and legislators partnered in California to pass the Farmer Equity Act, which created policies at the State Department of Food and Agriculture to ensure that their state agricultural agencies are accounting for farmer equity throughout the agency.

Now, three years after the bill was enacted into law a new department has been developed to ensure its implementation. Along the way there have been some challenges, some successes and a lot of lessons learned that may be of interest to other states considering similar action.

Participants:


Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, California State Assembly
Representative Sonya Harper, Illinois General Assembly
Thea Rittenhouse, Farm Equity Adviser, California Department of Food and Agriculture
Chanowk Yisrael, Chief Seed Starter, The Yisrael Urban Family Farm

COVID Resources: Food Systems and Agriculture

Covid-19 demonstrated that the corporate food supply chain is one crisis away from failing, which puts communities at risk of being food insecure and could cause barriers for local farmers working to address the food needs of their community.

In order to ensure that communities are resilient in their ability to access food during a crisis, legislators should work to ensure that there is a sound regional and/or local alternative food supply chain with a plan to get food to those who need it while also ensuring that food and farm workers are adequately protected in their workplaces. 

Resources

Support for Farmers

Local Food Infrastructure

Food Security

Farm & Food Worker Safety

Become a part of CROP: SiX's Agriculture Cohort

We wondered: Do SiX legislators want or need program-specific resources to help engage in rural, agricultural or local foods policy?

Our staff criss-crossed the country, traveled to your states, spoke with some of you over the phone, connected with your colleagues, reached out to your partners and the verdict is in:

SiX legislators not only need, but are EAGER to have resources developed specifically to support you as a progressive champion to engage in rural and agriculture policy-making.  

So we created CROP: the Cohort for Rural Opportunity and Prosperity, and we're providing you with those resources. Whether you are a policy maker who is an expert and passionate about rural and agricultural issues or if you are brand new to these topics looking to learn more and connect with others working in the same space, we invite you to join the Cohort for Rural Opportunity and Prosperity (CROP).

Join CROP: SiX's Agricultural Cohort

CROP is an internal group that is being developed in coordination with steering committee of amazing legislators (who you'll hear more about in coming days!) to ensure that the resources developed meet the needs on the ground in states. This Cohort is intended to be a safe space for you to learn, connect and get the support you need to be a progressive champion for regenerative agriculture, soil health, local food economies, family farms and everything food and "farmy" in between! 

By joining this new and growing cohort, you will have access to issue-specific resources, information about happenings in other states, the opportunity to connect with elected officials in other areas doing similar work, and you will have the opportunity to connect with farmers, ranchers and partner organizations who you likely are not always hearing from.  We will also be hosting opportunities that bring together partners and legislators for shared-learning and deeper strategic collaboration. 

Join us!