Bill > HR3516

This bill, known as the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025, addresses potential misuse and lack of transparency in agricultural commodity promotion programs, commonly called "checkoff programs." These programs are federally authorized initiatives that collect assessments from agricultural producers to fund generic marketing and research for specific commodities like beef, dairy, cotton, and eggs. The bill introduces several key provisions to improve oversight and prevent misuse: it prohibits checkoff program boards from entering into contracts with entities that lobby for agricultural policy changes, forbids conflicts of interest, bans anticompetitive activities and disparagement of other agricultural commodities, and mandates strict financial transparency. Specifically, boards must now publicly disclose all budgets, disbursements, and contract details, produce quarterly financial records, and submit to regular audits by the Department of Agriculture's Inspector General and the Comptroller General. The legislation aims to ensure that these programs genuinely benefit all producers in a commodity sector rather than serving narrow special interests, and that the funds collected are used solely for promotion, research, and information purposes as originally intended. The bill would apply to checkoff programs with annual assessment revenues exceeding $20 million, with some exceptions for research contracts with higher education institutions.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3516/all-info