Opportunities in Organic Act
Sponsored By: Representative Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create the 'Opportunities in Organic' program to expand federal support for organic certification, transition, and supply-chain growth. It renames and restructures the national organic cost-share program, broadens technical assistance, and targets socially disadvantaged farmers, smaller nonprofits, and under-resourced regions.
Show full summary
- Producers and ranchers could receive federal reimbursement for certification costs capped at $1,500 per payment, with the Secretary allowed to exceed that cap for high-cost regions or socially disadvantaged recipients. Producer transition grants last up to four years and may not be renewed.
- Eligible nonprofit organizations, universities, extension programs, and Tribal and State agriculture entities would get funding to recruit and support transitioning producers, run training and mentor programs, assist with certification and compliance, and build local capacity. The program requires quarterly coordination and expanded reporting on participants, acreage, sales, barriers, and outcomes.
- Organic handlers and regional supply chains could get funding for construction, equipment, certification support, and market development, with priority for disadvantaged or resource-constrained regions. The bill also encourages institutional market expansion, land access initiatives, and on-farm research.
*If enacted, this bill would authorize $380 million in new spending for FY2027–2031 and therefore increase federal spending.*
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Help paying organic certification costs
If enacted, USDA would pay some or all of a producer's or handler's certified organic certification costs as approved by the Secretary. The standard maximum payment would be $1,500 per payment. The Secretary could pay more than $1,500 for operations in regions with disproportionately high certification costs or for people who are socially disadvantaged, as the Secretary determines.
New Opportunities in Organic Program
If enacted, this would create a new USDA program called Opportunities in Organic. The bill would set official definitions for certified organic farms and handlers and for "transition to organic." It would define which nonprofits can get program funding and require the Secretary to run the program under the existing federal organic rules (7 CFR 205.2 or successor). This would enable later grants, technical help, and payments targeted to organic producers and related nonprofits.
Grants and local support for organic farms
If enacted, the bill would fund grants to nonprofits to help farms switch to organic and to strengthen certified organic farms. Grants could pay for staff, farmer recruitment, translation, paperwork help, business and conservation planning, on-farm research, and supply-chain work. The bill would expand regional technical assistance across USDA offices, universities, tribes, and extension, and promote local markets and institutional buying. Direct producer transition payments would be limited to a single four-year term and the Secretary may not renew those awards for the same recipient.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov