Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
Introduced
Summary
The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025 would tighten rules for Federal and State commodity "checkoff" programs to prevent the use of checkoff funds to influence public policy. It would add transparency, ban conflicts of interest, and impose regular audits to keep promotion programs focused on research and information rather than policy advocacy.
Show full summary
- Farmers and commodity producers would face new limits on how their assessment dollars are used. Boards with more than $20 million in annual assessment revenue would be barred from contracting with actors who try to influence government policy or action on agriculture.
- Checkoff boards, staff, and contractors would be subject to conflict-of-interest rules and bans on anticompetitive or disparaging practices. Boards must publish quarterly fund accounting and post budgets and disbursements with recipient, amount, and purpose within 30 days of receipt.
- Public research and education by universities would keep a narrow exception for contracts focused on research, extension, and education.
- Federal oversight would increase with Inspector General audits starting within 2 years and at least every 5 years afterward, and a Comptroller General audit between 3 and 5 years to assess integrity and offer recommendations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Clarifies which checkoff programs are covered
The bill would define which groups count as a Board and what a checkoff program is. It would cover generic promotion, research, and information programs and list examples like Beef, Pork, Dairy, Soybean, Cotton, and Fluid Milk. This would make clear who must follow the new rules.
Regular audits of farm checkoff programs
If enacted, the USDA Inspector General would audit each checkoff program within 2 years. Audits would repeat at least every 5 years. The IG would review records that contractors send to Boards and report findings to Congress and the Comptroller General. The Comptroller General would do a separate audit between year 3 and year 5. That report would assess actions taken, any integrity gains, and recommend next steps, using the IG reports.
Limits on checkoff boards and contractors
Boards would only be able to sign promotion and research contracts if the Secretary of Agriculture approves them. Boards with over $20 million in yearly assessments would not be allowed to hire firms that try to influence government farm policy. Colleges and universities could still be hired for research, extension, and education. Boards, staff, and agents would be barred from anticompetitive, unfair, or deceptive acts, or from disparaging other commodities. They also could not act with a conflict of interest, which means having a direct or indirect financial stake in someone who does work for the Board.
Public budgets and contracts for checkoffs
Boards would have to post budgets and each disbursement as soon as the Secretary approves them. Each post would list the amount, purpose, recipient, and any contractors or subcontractors. Every contract would require the contractor to send quarterly records of all spending, goods or services, and costs. Boards would have to publish those records within 30 days so the public can see them.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
SC • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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