[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2435 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2435
To amend the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to
assist farmers relying on the noninsured crop disaster assistance
program by lowering the cost of purchasing coverage, reducing paperwork
burdens, and increasing payouts under that program, and to incentivize
farmers to transition gradually to a comprehensive insurance policy
under the whole farm risk management insurance plan by offering
progressive premium discounts on a commitment to purchase a whole farm
plan of insurance.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 27, 2025
Mrs. Hayes (for herself, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Courtney, Ms.
DeLauro, and Mr. Himes) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to
assist farmers relying on the noninsured crop disaster assistance
program by lowering the cost of purchasing coverage, reducing paperwork
burdens, and increasing payouts under that program, and to incentivize
farmers to transition gradually to a comprehensive insurance policy
under the whole farm risk management insurance plan by offering
progressive premium discounts on a commitment to purchase a whole farm
plan of insurance.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Save Our Small Farms Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF NONINSURED CROP ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act
of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(C)--
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
inserting ``best facilitates'' after ``assistance
program that'';
(B) in clause (i)--
(i) by striking ``best facilitates the use
of that'' and inserting ``the use of those'';
and
(ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(C) in clause (ii)--
(i) by striking ``ensures the availability
of that'' and inserting ``the public
availability of those''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) the expansion of crops listed on
the national crop table of the Agency with a
local average market price;
``(iv) the voluntary graduation of program
participants to the whole farm risk management
insurance plan developed under section
522(c)(7) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1522(c)(7)); and
``(v) the establishment of pilot projects
for purposes of addressing emerging needs of
producers and collecting data to support the
development of policies or plans of insurance
offered under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (4) and
inserting the following:
``(4) Streamlined application process.--
``(A) Definition of whole farm plan.--In this
paragraph, the term `whole farm plan' means the whole
farm risk management insurance plan developed under
section 522(c)(7) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1522(c)(7)).
``(B) Establishment.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
establish a streamlined process for the
submission of records and acreage reports under
paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively, for--
``(I) diverse production systems,
such as those typical of urban
production systems;
``(II) other small-scale production
systems; and
``(III) direct-to-consumer
production systems.
``(ii) Inclusions.--The streamlined process
established under clause (i) shall include--
``(I) reduced acreage report
requirements; and
``(II) allowing the submission to
the Secretary of 2 reports per year so
as to accommodate later acreage
reporting.
``(C) Revenue-based option.--
``(i) Establishment.--Notwithstanding
paragraphs (2) and (3) or subsection (a)(1)(A),
the Secretary shall establish a streamlined
revenue-based coverage option that is
available, on a voluntary basis, to any
producer eligible for assistance under this
section.
``(ii) Submission of historical revenue.--
The Secretary shall accept the Internal Revenue
Service Tax Form Schedule F, or successor
forms, as sufficient for the establishment of
historical adjusted revenue, subject to the
condition that approved insurance providers may
request additional verifiable records in cases
where there is documented evidence, made clear
to the applicant, that farm tax records are
incomplete.
``(D) On-ramp to whole farm plan.--
``(i) In general.--In the case of a
producer using diverse production systems
described in subparagraph (B)(i) that may be
eligible for the whole farm plan, the
Secretary, acting through the Administrator of
the Agency, shall establish a streamlined
revenue-based option under the noninsured crop
disaster assistance program under this section
to assist the producer to transition, on a
voluntary basis, from the noninsured crop
disaster assistance program under this section
to the whole farm plan. The Secretary may
provide for such other options as may be
necessary to assist producers with such a
transition who are unable to purchase a whole
farm plan.
``(ii) Requirements.--The streamlined
revenue-based option established under clause
(i) shall offer a premium discount of--
``(I) 25 percent for the first crop
year for which a producer--
``(aa) certifies that the
producer will transition from
the noninsured crop disaster
assistance program under this
section to the whole farm plan
not later than 3 years after
the date of the certification;
and
``(bb) provides revenue
history with respect to that
crop year;
``(II) 50 percent for the crop year
following the crop year described in
subclause (I) if the producer--
``(aa) certifies that the
producer will transition from
the noninsured crop disaster
assistance program under this
section to the whole farm plan
not later than 2 years after
the date of the certification;
and
``(bb) provides revenue
history with respect to that
crop year; and
``(III) 50 percent for the crop
year following the crop year described
in subclause (II) if the producer--
``(aa) purchases insurance
under the whole farm plan not
later than 1 year after the
date of the certification; and
``(bb) provides revenue
history with respect to that
crop year.
``(iii) Tax form schedule f.--The Secretary
shall accept the Internal Revenue Service Tax
Form Schedule F (or a successor form) with
respect to a producer for purposes of
establishing revenue history under clause (ii).
``(iv) Revenue history sharing.--The
Secretary shall submit to the Federal Crop
Insurance Corporation the revenue history
submitted to the Secretary pursuant to clause
(ii).
``(E) Rulemaking.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of the Save Our Small Farms Act
of 2025, the Secretary shall issue regulations to
ensure that premium discounts under this paragraph are
only available to producers who transition to a whole
farm plan, as described in subparagraph (D)(i).'';
(3) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Notice of certain losses.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law (including regulations), a producer of a hand-
harvested or rapidly deteriorating crop may submit to the
Secretary notification of a loss of that crop 120 hours or more
after the loss in order to be eligible for assistance under
this section.
``(6) Appraisal of loss.--
``(A) In general.--In any case in which an
appraisal of crop acreage is requested by a producer or
determined to be necessary by the Secretary for a year
in which a notice of loss is filed under this
subsection, particularly in any case in which a loss
adjuster is not available within 72 hours of the
notice, the Secretary shall permit the following
alternatives to an in-person appraisal by a loss
adjuster:
``(i) Remote appraisal, including time-
stamped photographs, drone footage, and other
technology applications.
``(ii) Appraisal by field office staff of
the Agency with requisite training, in
conjunction with a remote appraisal under
clause (i).
``(B) Training.--The Secretary shall require field
office staff to attend noninsured crop disaster
assistance appraisal training for purposes of
subparagraph (A)(ii).'';
(4) in subsection (e)(3), by striking ``65 percent'' and
inserting ``100 percent'';
(5) in subsection (i)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), in
the case of a limited resource, beginning, or socially
disadvantaged farmer, as determined by the Secretary, a
veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in section
2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a))), or a producer
participating in the streamlined revenue-based option
pursuant to subsection (b)(4)(C), $600,000.'';
(6) in subsection (k)(2)--
(A) by striking ``defined by the Secretary, or a
veteran'' and inserting ``determined by the Secretary,
a veteran''; and
(B) by inserting ``, or a producer participating in
the streamlined revenue-based option pursuant to
subsection (b)(4)(C)'' before the period at the end;
(7) in subsection (l), by striking paragraph (3) and
inserting the following:
``(3) Premium discount.--The coverage made available under
this subsection shall be available to limited resource,
beginning, or socially disadvantaged farmers, as determined by
the Secretary, veteran farmers or ranchers (as defined in
section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a))), and producers
participating in the streamlined revenue-based option pursuant
to subsection (b)(4)(C), in exchange for a premium that is 25
percent of the premium determined under paragraph (2).''; and
(8) by adding at the end the following:
``(m) Delivery.--The Secretary shall collaborate with outreach and
technical assistance providers, extension offices, and State
departments of agriculture to advertise the noninsured crop disaster
assistance program under this section, particularly to limited
resource, beginning, or socially disadvantaged farmers, as determined
by the Secretary, veteran farmers or ranchers (as defined in section
2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
(7 U.S.C. 2279(a))), and producers eligible to participate in the
streamlined revenue-based option pursuant to subsection (b)(4)(C).''.
SEC. 3. WHOLE FARM REVENUE PROTECTION.
Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(c))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) increase participation by producers--
``(i) marketing direct-to-consumers;
``(ii) marketing through intermediated
sales in local and regional markets;
``(iii) using farm identity-preserved
marketing; or
``(iv) undertaking producer education on
how to use direct market prices.'';
(2) in paragraph (7)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``, with a
liability limitation of $1,500,000,'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or in
combination with'' after ``in lieu of'';
(C) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall'';
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ``or'' at
the end;
(iii) by redesignating clause (ii) as
clause (iii); and
(iv) by inserting after clause (i) the
following:
``(ii) utilize a resource-conserving crop
rotation (as defined in section 1240L(d)(1) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3839aa-24(d)(1))); or'';
(D) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``may'' and
inserting ``shall'';
(E) in subparagraph (E)--
(i) in clause (i), in the matter preceding
subclause (I), by striking ``18 months after
the date of enactment of the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018'' and inserting ``1
year after the date of the enactment of the
Save Our Small Farms Act of 2025'';
(ii) in clause (ii), in the matter
preceding subclause (I), by striking
``subclause'' and inserting ``clause''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) Additional review.--Not later than
1 year after the date of the enactment of the
Save Our Small Farms Act of 2025, and annually
thereafter, the Corporation shall--
``(I) review any limitations on
insurable revenue (including the
overall limitation and limitations
specific to animals, animal products,
greenhouse and nursery, and
aquaculture) to ensure the limitations
are adequate to cover the financial
risks associated with the production of
high-value agricultural products; and