[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4657 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4657

  To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify 
limitations on access to farm ownership loans for beginning farmers and 
                               ranchers.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 23, 2025

  Mr. Finstad (for himself and Mr. Riley of New York) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

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                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify 
limitations on access to farm ownership loans for beginning farmers and 
                               ranchers.

    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 ``Next Generation Farmer Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 302(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1922(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
        (A), by striking ``3 years'' and inserting ``1 year''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
            ``(4) Waiver authority.--In the case of a qualified 
        beginning farmer or rancher, the Secretary may waive the 1-year 
        requirement in paragraph (1) if the farmer or rancher has--
                    ``(A) at least 1 year of experience as hired farm 
                labor with substantial management responsibilities; or
                    ``(B) an established relationship with an 
                individual who has experience in farming or ranching, 
                or is a retired farmer or rancher, and is participating 
                as a counselor in a Service Corps of Retired Executives 
                program authorized under section 8(b)(1)(B) of the 
                Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)), or with a 
                local farm or ranch operator or organization, approved 
                by the Secretary, that is committed to mentoring the 
                farmer or rancher.''.
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