Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 935
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2019
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Mar 28, 2019
Overview
Text
Sponsor
Introduced
Mar 28, 2019
Latest Action
Mar 28, 2019
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
935
Congress
116
Policy Area
Agriculture and Food
Agriculture and Food
Primary focus of measure is agricultural practices; agricultural prices and marketing; agricultural education; food assistance or nutrition programs; food industry, supply, and safety; aquaculture; horticulture and plants. Measures concerning international trade in agricultural products may fall under Foreign Trade and International Finance policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Utah
Republican
Kentucky
Democrat
Massachusetts
Democrat
New Jersey
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2019

This bill establishes restrictions and requirements for checkoff programs, which are programs overseen by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands.

The bill prohibits boards established to carry out a checkoff program or a USDA order issued under a checkoff program from entering into a contract or agreement to carry out program activities with a party that engages in activities to influence any government policy or action that relates to agriculture.

A board or its employees or agents acting in their official capacity may not engage in any

  • act that may involve a conflict of interest;
  • anticompetitive activity;
  • unfair or deceptive act or practice; or
  • act that may be disparaging to, or in any way negatively portray, another agricultural commodity or product.

Upon approval of USDA, a board may enter directly into contracts and agreements to carry out generic promotion, research, or other activities authorized by law if the agreement or contract requires records accounting for the funds received to be submitted to the board.

The board must meet specified requirements regarding the publication of budgets and disbursements of funds.

The USDA Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office must conduct specified audits regarding checkoff programs.

Text (1)
March 28, 2019
Actions (2)
03/28/2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
03/28/2019
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Nov 1, 2022 6:47:29 PM