# 119-s-984: Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act

119-s-984, Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-984
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-984
- Congress: 119
- Title: Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-12
- Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Agriculture and Food
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**Waives the adjusted gross income cap for certain USDA disaster payments when 75% or more of a person or entity's income comes from farming, ranching, or silviculture.** It would let producers whose average adjusted gross income is mostly from agriculture keep eligibility for specific disaster programs even if their income exceeds the current $900,000 limit. - Farmers and ranchers: If at least 75% of average adjusted gross income comes from farming, ranching, or silviculture, the AGI limit would not block access to covered disaster payments. - Specialty producers and related businesses: Beekeepers, farm-raised fish producers, tree growers, agritourism operators, direct-to-consumer sellers, and those selling their own agricultural equipment can count those activities toward the 75% test and remain eligible. - Programs affected: The exception applies to disaster assistance under the Livestock Indemnity Program, Livestock Forage Disaster Program, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish, the Tree Assistance Program, and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. - Administration: The Secretary of Agriculture would determine how the 75% threshold and related agriculture activities are measured and applied.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Payment cap exception for farmers: benefit, high. This bill would let some farmers and farm businesses be exempt from the usual farm payment cap. If enacted, payments under subtitle E of title I of the 2014 Farm Act (7 U.S.C. 9081) and section 196 of the 1996 Farm Act (7 U.S.C. 7333) would not be limited by the paragraph (1) payment cap for a crop…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-1462: Fix Our Forests Act
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act

## Sources
- [119-s-984 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/984)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-1462: Fix Our Forests Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1462)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-984 (as of 2025-12-21).