The GATES Act amends federal farm payment rules to create an exemption for farmers, ranchers, and forestry operators who derive at least 75 percent of their income from agricultural activities. Currently, the Food Security Act limits payments that individual farmers and farm entities can receive, but this bill would allow those whose primary income comes from agriculture to exceed those payment caps if they provide documentation proving their income sources. The legislation affects farmers, ranchers, and forestry businesses that participate in federal agricultural programs and payment schemes. The bill was introduced in July 2023 by a bipartisan group of House members and referred to the Agriculture Committee but does not specify new funding amounts or implementation timelines. The change aims to direct more federal agricultural support to operations where farming is the primary business rather than a secondary income source.