S. 1172 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 27, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryProtects farm agreements and USDA office closures
This bill tells the Department of Agriculture to release frozen funding for farm-related contracts and agreements that were signed before the bill becomes law, and to pay back any money the department owes as quickly as possible. It also prevents USDA from canceling signed agreements with farmers or farm-assistance organizations unless they've broken the terms, and requires the department to give Congress 60 days' notice before closing any Farm Service Agency county offices, Natural Resources Conservation Service field offices, or Rural Development Service Centers.
How it affects you
Farmers and rural businesses with USDA contracts will see funding flow again and their agreements protected from cancellation as long as they're following the rules. If you live in a rural area and rely on USDA service centers for loans, conservation help, or agricultural support, you'll have some protection against sudden office closures in your community, since Congress will now have advance warning and a chance to weigh in.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 27, 2025)
Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to unfreeze funding for agreements and contracts and prohibits USDA from closing certain offices and service centers without notifying Congress in advance.
Specifically, USDA must (1) unfreeze funding for, and implement, all agreements and contracts entered into by USDA prior to the bill's enactment; and (2) pay all related past due amounts owed by USDA as rapidly as possible.
Further, the bill prohibits USDA from canceling a signed agreement or contract with a farmer or an entity providing assistance to farmers (unless the farmer or entity is not in compliance with the terms and conditions of the agreement or contract).
Finally, the bill prohibits USDA from closing Farm Service Agency county offices, Natural Resources Conservation Service field offices, or Rural Development Service Centers without providing written notice and a justification to Congress at least 60 days before the closure.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1172
A BILL
Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Cory A. Booker (D-NJ) · Introduced Mar 27, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 27, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”