This bill restricts how agricultural "checkoff programs"—federally-managed commodity promotion boards for products like beef, dairy, wheat, and pork—can spend their funds. The legislation prohibits these programs from contracting with organizations that lobby government on farm policy and bars boards from engaging in conflicts of interest, anticompetitive practices, or campaigns that disparage other agricultural commodities. The bill applies primarily to larger checkoff programs collecting more than $20 million annually, with an exception for contracts with universities for research and education. To increase oversight, the bill requires boards to publicly disclose all budgets, spending, and contractor information within 30 days of approval, and mandates quarterly audits by the Agriculture Department's Inspector General beginning within two years, followed by a comprehensive review by the Government Accountability Office within three to five years. The goal is to ensure checkoff funds benefit all assessed farmers equally rather than being diverted to influence policy in ways that favor some producers over others.
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