S. 1848 · 119th Congress
Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025
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R
LeeSponsor4 cosponsors · 3 D, 1 R
3 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill establishes restrictions and requirements for agricultural checkoff programs.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · May 21, 2025
Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025
This bill establishes restrictions and requirements for agricultural checkoff programs. These are programs overseen by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands (e.g., the Cotton Board, Cattlemen's Beef Board, or National Watermelon Promotion Board).
The bill prohibits boards established to carry out a checkoff program with annual assessment revenue equal to more than $20 million or a USDA order issued under such a checkoff program from entering into a contract or agreement to carry out activities under the program with a party that engages in activities to influence any government policy or action that relates to agriculture.
A board or its employees or agents acting in their official capacity may not engage in any
- act that may involve a conflict of interest;
- anticompetitive activity;
- unfair or deceptive act or practice; or
- act that may be disparaging to, or in any way negatively portray, another agricultural commodity or product.
Upon approval of USDA, a board may enter directly into contracts and agreements to carry out generic promotion, research, or other activities authorized by law if the agreement or contract requires records accounting for the funds received to be submitted to the board.
Further, the board must meet specified requirements regarding the publication of budgets and disbursements of funds.
The USDA Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office must conduct specified audits regarding checkoff programs.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025
Latest action (May 21, 2025): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Policy area: Agriculture and Food · Origin: Senate · Introduced: May 21, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.