Equal Treatment for Farmers Act
Sponsored By: Representative Harris (NC)
Introduced
Summary
Ends race- and gender-based preferences in USDA programs and would remove the federal "socially disadvantaged" farmer and rancher label in many programs while shifting support toward beginning and veteran farmers.
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- Would prioritize beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers by expanding those categories in program text and by requiring a 5 percent set-aside of funds for beginning farmers or ranchers in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program for the listed funding periods.
- Would eliminate or downgrade the "socially disadvantaged" classification across crop insurance, marketing, rural development, conservation, and credit authorities, while preserving specific limited-resource farmer protections in some statutory locations.
- Would add a lender preference for States that adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act when relending to heirs property owners and would cap certain perennial crop establishment payments at no more than 50 percent of costs and no more than $500 per acre.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
Stop race and gender preferences
If enacted, the bill would remove the statutory label "socially disadvantaged" from many farm laws. It would also bar any USDA program from giving preference, priority, or enhanced benefits based on race or gender. This would change access to loans, conservation payments, crop insurance, and other USDA programs for people who previously used that status.
Conservation help for new and low-income farmers
If enacted, the bill would direct 5 percent of EQIP funds each year to help beginning farmers or ranchers. It would also direct 5 percent of CSP acres (and where specified, 5 percent of CSP funds) for beginning farmers for the listed fiscal years. The bill would preserve an exception so some rules do not apply to farms owned by limited-resource farmers, with the Secretary defining that term.
Cap on perennial crop establishment payments
If enacted, establishment payments for eligible perennial crops would be limited to no more than 50 percent of establishment costs. Payments would also be capped at $500 per acre. Covered items include seeds or stock, planting costs as set by the Secretary, and for nonindustrial private forestland, site preparation and tree planting costs.
Lender preference for heirs property loans
If enacted, the Secretary would give preference when making certain loans to eligible lenders located in States that have adopted the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act. The preference would apply where those lenders relend to owners of heirs property as defined in that Act. This aims to improve the chance that heirs-property owners can get relending from participating lenders in adopting States.
Limit prior owner occupancy to five years
If enacted, a prior owner of homestead property could occupy the property only for the period they request in writing. That requested occupancy period could not be more than five years. This secures a written occupancy right but also caps how long the prior owner may stay.
Repeal of a 2023 spending provision
If enacted, the bill would repeal Section 201 of division HH of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. The text does not state the direct dollar or program effects of that section, so impacts would depend on what that earlier provision had required. The practical results for households would vary accordingly.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Harris (NC)
NC • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]
MD • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]
CO • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Wied
WI • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Brecheen
OK • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9]
GA • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
IL • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10]
PA • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]
TN • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10]
GA • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Nehls
TX • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
LA • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
TN • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Norman
SC • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
AL • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
VA • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
NE • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4]
IN • R
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Moore (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov