H.R. 8374

119 HR 8374 IH: Equal Treatment for Farmers Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-20
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8374  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 20, 2026   Mr. Harris of North Carolina  (for himself,  Mr. Harris of Maryland ,  Ms. Boebert ,  Mr. Wied ,  Mr. Harrigan ,  Mr. Fine ,  Mr. Brecheen ,  Mr. Clyde ,  Mrs. Miller of Illinois ,  Mr. Perry ,  Mr. Ogles ,  Mr. Steube ,  Mr. Collins ,  Mr. Nehls ,  Mr. Carter of Georgia ,  Ms. Letlow ,  Mr. Burchett ,  Mr. Self ,  Mr. Roy ,  Mr. Norman ,  Mr. Moore of Alabama ,  Mr. Van Orden ,  Mr. Cline , and  Mr. Smith of Nebraska ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Agriculture    A BILL
To strike references to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in Federal law, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Equal Treatment for Farmers Act  .
2.
Striking references to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in Federal law
(a)
Section 524(a)(3) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1524(a)(3) ) is amended—
(1)
by striking subparagraph (C); and
(2)
by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (F) as subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively.
(b)
Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ( 7 U.S.C. 1627c ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
by striking paragraph (11); and
(B)
by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as paragraphs (11) and (12), respectively;
(2)
in subsection (d)(5)(C)(i)—
(A)
by striking subclause (II); and
(B)
by redesignating subclauses (III) and (IV) as subclauses (II) and (III), respectively; and
(3)
in subsection (i)(3)(A)(ii)(II)—
(A)
in the subclause heading, by striking
Beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged   and inserting
Beginning and veteran  ; and
(B)
by striking  beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged  and inserting  beginning and veteran .
(c)
The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq. ) is amended—
(1)
in section 304 ( 7 U.S.C. 1924 )—
(A)
in subsection (d)(1), by striking  and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers ; and
(B)
in subsection (e)(2), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher or a ;
(2)
in section 310B(e) ( 7 U.S.C. 1932(e) )—
(A)
by striking paragraph (11); and
(B)
by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as paragraphs (11) and (12), respectively;
(3)
in section 310E ( 7 U.S.C. 1935 )—
(A)
in subsection (d)(4)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by adding  or  at the end;
(ii)
by striking subparagraph (B);
(iii)
by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B); and
(iv)
in subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, by striking  ; and  at the end; and
(B)
in subsection (e)—
(i)
in paragraph (1), by adding  and  at the end;
(ii)
by striking paragraph (2); and
(iii)
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2);
(4)
in section 310F ( 7 U.S.C. 1936 )—
(A)
in the section heading, by striking
and socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher  ;
(B)
in subsection (a), by striking  or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (as defined in section 355(e)(2)) ;
(C)
in subsection (b)(1), by striking  or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher ;
(D)
in subsection (c)(1), by striking  or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher ; and
(E)
in subsection (f), by striking  and Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher  each place it appears;
(5)
in section 310I ( 7 U.S.C. 1936c )—
(A)
in subsection (b)(2), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (as defined in subsection (a) of section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279 )) or ; and
(B)
by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d)
Preference
In making loans under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities in States that have adopted a statute consisting of an enactment or adoption of the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, as approved and recommended for enactment in all States by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 2010, that relend to owners of heirs property (as defined in that Act).
 ;
(6)
in section 333B(c)(3)(A) ( 7 U.S.C. 1983b(c)(3)(A) ), by striking  , including, as appropriate, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 355(e)(2)) ;
(7)
in section 352(c) ( 7 U.S.C. 2000(c) ), by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
(4)
The period of occupancy allowed the prior owner of homestead property under this section shall be the period requested in writing by the prior owner, except that such period shall not exceed 5 years.
 ; and
(8)
by striking section 355 ( 7 U.S.C. 2003 ).
(d)
Section 5413 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 ( 7 U.S.C. 2008x ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)(1)(C), by striking  and socially disadvantaged ; and
(2)
in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking  and socially disadvantaged .
(e)
Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
by striking paragraphs (5) and (6); and
(B)
by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (5);
(2)
in subsection (b), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers,  and inserting  veteran farmers and ranchers ;
(3)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in the subsection heading, by striking
socially disadvantaged and  ;
(B)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A)—
(I)
in clause (i), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and ; and
(II)
in clause (ii), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and ;
(ii)
by striking subparagraphs (E) and (F); and
(iii)
by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (E);
(C)
in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and ;
(D)
in paragraph (4)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and ;
(ii)
in subparagraph (D)—
(I)
by striking clauses (iii) and (iv);
(II)
by redesignating clauses (v) through (vii) as clauses (iii) through (v), respectively;
(III)
in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking  and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers ; and
(IV)
in clause (v), as so redesignated, by striking  clause (vi)  and inserting  clause (iv) ; and
(iii)
in subparagraph (F), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers or ; and
(E)
by striking paragraph (5);
(4)
in subsection (f)—
(A)
by striking paragraph (2);
(B)
by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively; and
(C)
in paragraph (3), as so redesignated—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by adding  or  at the end;
(ii)
by striking subparagraph (B); and
(iii)
by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B);
(5)
in subsection (g)(2), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers or ;
(6)
by striking subsections (h) and (j);
(7)
by redesignating subsections (i), (k), and (l) as subsections (h), (i), and (j), respectively;
(8)
in subsection (i), as so redesignated—
(A)
in paragraph (1)(A), by striking  and members of socially disadvantaged groups ; and
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  and members of socially disadvantaged groups ;
(ii)
in subparagraph (B), by adding  and  at the end;
(iii)
by striking subparagraphs (C) and (E);
(iv)
by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (C); and
(v)
in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by striking  ; and  and inserting a period; and
(9)
in subsection (j)(4)(A), as redesignated by paragraph (7)—
(A)
in clause (i), by adding  and  at the end;
(B)
by striking clause (ii); and
(C)
by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii).
(f)
The Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. ) is amended—
(1)
in section 226B ( 7 U.S.C. 6934 )—
(A)
in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (3);
(B)
in subsection (b)(1)(B)—
(i)
by striking clause (iii); and
(ii)
by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively;
(C)
in subsection (c)—
(i)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking  veteran farmers and ranchers, and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers  and inserting  and veteran farmers and ranchers ;
(ii)
in paragraph (1), by striking  socially disadvantaged, ; and
(iii)
in paragraph (5), by striking  veteran farmers or ranchers, and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers  and inserting  and veteran farmers or ranchers ;
(D)
by striking subsection (d); and
(E)
by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and
(2)
by striking section 305 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279a ).
(g)
Section 201 of division HH of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 ( Public Law 117–328 ; 136 Stat. 5971) is repealed.
(h)
Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 7333 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (k)(2), by striking  , beginning, or socially disadvantaged  and inserting  or beginning ; and
(2)
in subsection (l)(3)—
(A)
in the paragraph heading, by striking
veteran, and socially disadvantaged   and inserting
and veteran  ; and
(B)
by striking  , beginning, and socially disadvantaged  and inserting  and beginning .
(i)
Section 405(c) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 ( 7 U.S.C. 7625(c) ) is amended by striking  socially disadvantaged farmers, .
(j)
Section 9011 of the  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002  ( 7 U.S.C. 8111 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (9); and
(2)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (2)(B), by amending clause (v) to read as follows:
(v)
the participation rate by beginning farmers or ranchers (as defined in accordance with section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a) ));
  ; and
(B)
in paragraph (5), by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
(B)
Amount of establishment payments
The amount of an establishment payment under this subsection shall be not more than 50 percent of the costs of establishing an eligible perennial crop covered by the contract but not to exceed $500 per acre, including—
(i)
the cost of seeds and stock for perennials;
(ii)
the cost of planting the perennial crop, as determined by the Secretary; and
(iii)
in the case of nonindustrial private forestland, the costs of site preparation and tree planting.
  .
(k)
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 8701 et seq. ) is amended—
(1)
in section 1101(d) ( 7 U.S.C. 8711(d) ), by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
(2)
Exception
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a farm owned by a limited resource farmer or rancher, as defined by the Secretary.
 ; and
(2)
in section 1302(d) ( 7 U.S.C. 8752(d) ), by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
(2)
Exception
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a farm owned by a limited resource farmer or rancher, as defined by the Secretary.
 .
(l)
The Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9001 et seq. ) is amended—
(1)
in section 1114(d)(2) ( 7 U.S.C. 9014(d)(2) )—
(A)
by striking subparagraph (A); and
(B)
by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively;
(2)
in section 1404(c)(4) ( 7 U.S.C. 9054(c)(4) ), by striking  veteran, or socially disadvantaged  and inserting  or veteran ; and
(3)
in section 1501(a)(1)(A) ( 7 U.S.C. 9081(a)(1)(A) )—
(A)
in clause (i), by adding  or  at the end;
(B)
by striking clause (ii); and
(C)
by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii).
(m)
Subclause (III) of section 8(b)(5)(B)(iii) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act ( 16 U.S.C. 590h(b)(5)(B)(iii) ) is amended to read as follows:
(III)
Nominations
To be eligible for nomination and election to the applicable county, area, or local committee, as determined by the Secretary, an agricultural producer shall be located within the area under the jurisdiction of a county, area, or local committee, and participate or cooperate in programs administered within that area.
  .
(n)
Section 402A(b) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2202a(b) ) is amended by striking  , a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (as defined in subsection (a) of section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279 ), .
(o)
Section 623 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 ( 7 U.S.C. 1985  note) is repealed.
(p)
The Food Security Act of 1985 ( Public Law 99–198 ; 99 Stat. 1504) is amended—
(1)
in section 1201(a) ( 16 U.S.C. 3801(a) )—
(A)
by striking paragraph (23); and
(B)
by redesignating paragraphs (24) through (27) as paragraphs (23) through (26), respectively;
(2)
in section 1231C(b)(3)(E) ( 16 U.S.C. 3831c(b)(3)(E) )—
(A)
in the subparagraph heading, by striking
socially disadvantaged,  ;
(B)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking  socially disadvantaged, ; and
(C)
in clause (i)(II), by striking  socially disadvantaged, ;
(3)
in section 1240B(d)(4)(A) ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(4)(A) ), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, ;
(4)
in section 1241(h) ( 16 U.S.C. 3841(h) ), by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
(1)
Assistance
(A)
Fiscal years 2009 through 2018
Of the funds made available for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2018 to carry out the environmental quality incentives program and the acres made available for each of such fiscal years to carry out the conservation stewardship program, the Secretary shall use, to the maximum extent practicable, 5 percent to assist beginning farmers or ranchers.
(B)
Fiscal years 2019 through 2031
Of the funds made available for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2031 to carry out the environmental quality incentives program under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D and the conservation stewardship program under subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D, the Secretary shall use, to the maximum extent practicable, 5 percent to assist beginning farmers or ranchers.
 ; and
(5)
in section 1271E(d) ( 16 U.S.C. 3871e(d) ), by striking  socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, .
3.
Prohibition on racial and gender preferences in USDA programs
Notwithstanding any other law, no program of the Department of Agriculture may provide any preference, priority consideration, or enhanced benefits to any individual or entity on the basis of race or gender.