Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would impose stronger rules to increase transparency and bar conflicts of interest in federal and state "checkoff" commodity promotion programs. It targets how boards spend money and who they may contract with to stop funds from being used to influence policy or favor certain producers.
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- Producers and small farms would see limits on unfair use of checkoff funds because boards could not contract with parties that try to influence government policy and programs with more than $20 million in annual assessments would be covered. These limits aim to prevent some producers from being advantaged at others' expense.
- Boards and contractors would have new disclosure duties. Contracts must require quarterly accounting, and boards must publish budgets and disbursements when the Secretary approves them. The bill also bans conflicts of interest, anticompetitive acts, deceptive practices, and disparaging other commodities while allowing university research contracts.
- Public oversight would increase through audits and reviews. The Inspector General must audit within 2 years and at least every 5 years after that. The Government Accountability Office would review compliance and recommend fixes between 3 and 5 years after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
More checkoff transparency and audits
If enacted, every checkoff contract would have to require quarterly financial records. Boards would have to keep those records and publish them within 30 days. Boards would also publish budgets and disbursements when the Secretary approves them, showing amounts, purpose, recipients, and subcontractors. The bill would require an Inspector General audit within 2 years and at least every 5 years. The Comptroller General would also audit once between years 3 and 5 and give recommendations.
New definitions for checkoff programs
If enacted, the bill would define key words used for checkoff programs. It would say who counts as a "Board" and what counts as a "checkoff program." The text lists many covered commodities like cotton, potatoes, eggs, beef, wheat, dairy, soy, and more. It would also define "conflict of interest" and name the Secretary of Agriculture. These definitions would take effect upon enactment.
Contract and conduct limits for boards
If enacted, Boards would need the Secretary of Agriculture's approval before signing promotion or research contracts. Boards of large checkoff programs (over $20 million a year) would be barred from hiring parties that lobby on farm policy. There would be an exception for contracts with colleges for research, extension, or education. The bill would also bar Boards and their staff from anticompetitive acts, deceptive practices, attacks on other commodities, and actions that create conflicts of interest.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lee, Mike [R-UT]
UT • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
KY • R
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov