Bills · S 782
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 782Agriculture and Food
Expanding Local Meat Processing Act of 2025
INTRO FEB 27· LAST ACTION FEB 27
READING
2MIN
COSPONSORS
2
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it addresses concerns about consolidation in the meat industry and aims to boost local food systems. Currently, a few large companies dominate meat processing, which can limit options for farmers and lead to vulnerabilities in the food supply chain, as seen during recent disruptions. By allowing smaller meatpackers to have interests in market agencies, the bill could help these smaller businesses expand, become more efficient, and offer more choices to farmers.
If this bill becomes law, it could lead to more diversified and resilient meat supply chains, potentially making it easier for consumers to access locally sourced meat. It might also increase competition at the local level, offering farmers more avenues to sell their livestock. If it doesn't pass, the current restrictions would remain, potentially hindering the growth of smaller meat processors and leaving farmers with fewer local options for selling their animals.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to change regulations to allow certain smaller meat packers to have an interest in market agencies.
This directly removes a regulatory barrier that currently prevents smaller meat businesses from integrating with livestock sellers.
PROVISION 02
Defines the 'certain packers' eligible for this exemption based on their cumulative slaughter capacity (e.g., less than 2,000 cattle/sheep per day, or 10,000 hogs per day).
This ensures the exemption is specifically targeted at smaller processing operations, rather than large industry players.
PROVISION 03
Requires market agencies that have an interest in, or manage, an exempt packer to disclose this relationship to farmers when selling their livestock to that packer.
This provision ensures transparency for livestock producers, informing them of potential conflicts of interest when their animals are sold.
PROVISION 04
Includes a savings clause confirming that this new rule does not limit the Secretary of Agriculture's existing authority to enforce fair practice rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
This ensures that broader protections for producers, market integrity, and competition remain in effect despite the new exemption.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 2
D· New Mexico
YRS IN OFFICE
17
BILLS LED
86
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 2 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 27
Introduced in Senate
FEB 27
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 782
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 27, 2025
Last actionFeb 27, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 27, 2025
Senate BillS 782Agriculture and Food
Expanding Local Meat Processing Act of 2025
INTRODUCED FEB 27, 2025· LAST ACTION FEB 27, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
2 min
COSPONSORS
2
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
