S. 5526
Agricultural Act of 2026
Sponsor: John Boozman · 0 cosponsors
Official summary
No official summary yet.
Text of the bill
I Commodities
A Commodity Policy
B Dairy
C Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance
D Administration
II Conservation
A Conservation Reserve Program
B Environmental Quality Incentives Program
C Conservation Stewardship Program
D Funding and administration
E Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
F Regional Conservation Partnership Program
G Forest Conservation Easement Program
H Other Conservation programs
III Trade
A Food for Peace Act
B Agricultural Trade Act of 1978
C Other agricultural trade laws
D Reports
IV Nutrition
A Supplemental nutrition assistance program
Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(y) Staffing flexibility
(1) Hiring contractors
(A) In general. Notwithstanding subsection (e)(6)(B), a State agency may, subject to subparagraph (B), hire 1 or more contractors, by contract, to undertake the certification described in subsection (e)(6)(A) or carry out any other function of the State agency under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, subject to subparagraph (C).
(B) Circumstances for hiring
(i) In general. A State agency may hire 1 or more contractors under subparagraph (A) if the State agency—
(I) experiences an increase in applications to the supplemental nutrition assistance program; or
(II) cannot timely process applications to the supplemental nutrition assistance program, including due to—
(aa) a pandemic or other health emergency;
(bb) a seasonal workforce cycle;
(cc) a temporary staffing shortage; and
(dd) weather or other natural disaster.
(ii) Temporary staffing shortage. In the case of a State agency hiring 1 or more contractors under subparagraph (A) due to a temporary staffing shortage under clause (i)(II)(cc), the authority of a State agency to conduct that hiring—
(I) shall expire when there is adequate staffing for the State agency to timely process applications; and
(II) shall not impact any collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding in effect between the State and employees of the State or a local government of the State.
(C) Requirements
(i) In general. A contract entered into by a State agency under subparagraph (A) shall not provide incentives for the State agency or contractor to delay eligibility determinations or deny eligibility for individuals otherwise eligible for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
(ii) No financial interest. A State agency may not hire a contractor under subparagraph (A) if the contractor has a direct or indirect financial interest in any approved retail store, wholesale food concern, or employment and training program.
(iii) Excluded activities. A contractor hired under subparagraph (A) may not—
(I) determine eligibility;
(II) initiate enforcement actions;
(III) conduct quality control;
(IV) conduct administrative hearings; or
(V) screen for or make a referral to an employment and training program.
(D) Administration. A State agency that hires 1 or more contractors under subparagraph (A) shall ensure that—
(i) the contracts are for a reasonable cost and in accordance with the standard contracting rules of the State agency;
(ii) hiring is consistent with the merit principles described in section 900.603 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation); and
(iii) the contractors do not supplant existing merit-based personnel in the State.
(2) Program design. The hiring of 1 or more contractors by a State agency under paragraph (1) shall not—
(A) be considered to be a major change in the operations of the State agency for purposes of subsection (a)(4); or
(B) be subject to any requirement specified in that section.
(3) State agency notification
(A) In general. A State agency that hires 1 or more contractors under paragraph (1) shall notify the Secretary of such hiring, including providing information or data indicating the applicable circumstance under subparagraph (B) of that paragraph for carrying out that hiring.
(B) Publication. Not later than 10 days after the date of receipt of a notification under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make publicly available on the website of the Department of Agriculture the notification and the accompanying information or data.
(4) Annual report. The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives an annual report that describes—
(A) the measures taken by State agencies to address increases in applications to the supplemental nutrition assistance program;
(B) reasons for the inability of State agencies to timely process those applications, as applicable;
(C) the information or data submitted with each notification under paragraph (3)(A); and
(D) any recommended changes to the authority of the Secretary to assist State agencies in preparing for any future increase in applications to the supplemental nutrition assistance program or inability to timely process those applications.
B Commodity distribution programs
C Miscellaneous
V Credit
A Farm Credit System
B Farm ownership and operating loans
C Administrative provisions
VI Rural Development
A Rural Electrification Act of 1936
I Rural broadband access
II Additional amendments
B Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
C Miscellaneous
I Rural care economy
II Other miscellaneous provisions
VII Research, Extension, and Related Matters
A National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
B Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
C Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998
D Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
I Agricultural security
II Miscellaneous provisions
E Other Matters
VIII Forestry
A Forest data modernization
B Forest health and management
I Forest Service management
II State and private partnerships
III Timber innovation
C Forest conservation
D Land designations
E White oak resilience
F Other matters
IX Energy
X Horticulture
A Horticulture marketing and information
B Regulatory reform
XI Crop insurance
XII Miscellaneous
A Livestock
B National security
C Fertilizer
D United States grain standards reauthorization
E Year-Round E15 and RFS reform
F Other miscellaneous provisions