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119-s-4249119th CongressWALLET

FARM Stability Act

Sponsored By: Senator Budd, Ted [R-NC]

Introduced

Summary

Two-tiered wage rate would require the Secretary of Labor to set annual wage tiers for H-2A agricultural workers by skill level. It would also create a housing compensation adjustment tied to HUD 4-bedroom fair market rents when higher agricultural minimum wages apply.

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  • Workers: H-2A roles would be split into Skill Level I for entry-level work and Skill Level II for jobs needing experience, formal education, training, or significant agricultural experience. Skill Level II must receive a higher wage than Skill Level I.
  • Pay and housing: Wage rates would get a compensation adjustment based on the weighted statewide average of HUD fair market rents for a 4-bedroom unit. That housing factor would be capped at 30 percent of the applicable wage rate.
  • Administration and scope: The Secretary would set the two-tier rates and the housing adjustment every year. These provisions apply only when a higher minimum wage than the federal or state agricultural minimum is required for H-2A workers.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New two-tier pay for farmworkers

If enacted, the bill would require the Labor Secretary to set state-level, two-tier hourly wages for H-2A farm jobs each year. Jobs needing entry-level skills would be Skill Level I. Jobs needing experience, formal education, training certificates, or significant farm experience would be Skill Level II, and Skill Level II would be paid higher than Skill Level I. The rule would apply only when the Secretary determines a wage above the Federal or State agricultural minimum is required. The Secretary would also add a yearly housing pay amount based on HUD's weighted statewide fair market rent for a 4-bedroom unit, converted to an hourly rate and capped at 30 percent of the applicable skill wage. Employers who hire H-2A workers could face higher labor costs, and H-2A worker households could see higher pay.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Budd, Ted [R-NC]

NC • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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