Government Updates Fine Print to Make Fines Actually Sting
Published Date: 1/15/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting January 15, 2025, the Farm Credit Administration is raising its civil money penalties to keep up with inflation. This means anyone who breaks certain farm credit or flood insurance rules could face bigger fines. The goal? To keep penalties strong enough to stop rule-breaking and keep things fair.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Higher fines for final-order violations
If you are a Farm Credit System institution or an officer, director, employee, agent, or other person participating in the affairs of a System institution, the maximum civil money penalty for violating a final FCA order increases to $2,904 per day for violations that occur on or after January 15, 2025.
Higher penalties for Farm Credit Act violations
For violations of the Farm Credit Act or FCA regulations that occur on or after January 15, 2025, the maximum civil money penalty increases to $1,313 per day for each violation.
Bigger flood-insurance violation fines, no annual cap
The maximum civil money penalty for a pattern or practice of National Flood Insurance Program violations enforced by the FCA is increased to $2,730 for each violation occurring on or after January 15, 2025, and there is no cap on the total penalties that can be assessed against any single institution in a calendar year.
When the increases actually apply
The inflation adjustments apply only to civil money penalties that are assessed after the increase takes effect; the rule is effective January 15, 2025, so penalties assessed after that date will reflect the new amounts even if the underlying violation began earlier.
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