I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7318 
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to expand 
the national organic certification cost-share program into a comprehen-
sive organic program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 2, 2026 
Mr. PANETTA (for himself, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. TONKO, Ms. NORTON, Mr. LIEU, 
Ms. TOKUDA, Ms. LOFGREN, and Ms. PINGREE) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 to expand the national organic certification cost- 
share program into a comprehensive organic program, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Opportunities in Or-
ganic Act’’. 
SEC. 2. OPPORTUNITIES IN ORGANIC PROGRAM. 
Section 10606 of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 6523) is amended— 
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(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘NA-
TIONAL
ORGANIC
CERTIFICATION
COST- 
SHARE’’ and inserting ‘‘OPPORTUNITIES IN OR-
GANIC’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (b); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; 
(4) in subsection (a), by striking the subsection 
designation and heading and all that follows through 
‘‘Secretary of Agriculture’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary’’; 
(5) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) CERTIFIED
ORGANIC
FARM; CERTIFIED 
ORGANIC HANDLING OPERATION.—The terms ‘cer-
tified organic farm’ and ‘certified organic handling 
operation’ have the meanings given those terms in 
section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502). 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.— 
The term ‘eligible nonprofit organization’ means a 
nonprofit organization (as defined in section 1619(b) 
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
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Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5801(b))) that primarily 
serves at least 1 of the following: 
‘‘(A) Socially disadvantaged farmers and 
ranchers. 
‘‘(B) Organic producers and handlers. 
‘‘(C) 1 or more vulnerable agricultural re-
gions, such as farms near schools, childcare 
providers, residential areas, or sensitive eco-
systems. 
‘‘(D) 1 or more under-resourced agricul-
tural regions. 
‘‘(E) Smaller nonprofit organizations (as 
so defined) that primarily serve the entities or 
regions described in subparagraph (A), (B), 
(C), or (D). 
‘‘(3) NATIONAL
ORGANIC
PRODUCTION
PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘national organic production pro-
gram’ means the national organic production pro-
gram established under the Organic Foods Produc-
tion Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.). 
‘‘(4) ORGANIC.—The term ‘organic’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 205.2 of title 7, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regula-
tion). 
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‘‘(5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means 
the Opportunities in Organic program established 
under subsection (b). 
‘‘(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
‘‘(7) SOCIALLY
DISADVANTAGED
FARMER
OR 
RANCHER; SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUP.—The 
terms ‘socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher’ and 
‘socially disadvantaged group’ have the meanings 
given those terms in section 2501(a) of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 2279(a)). 
‘‘(8) TRANSITION
TO
ORGANIC.—The term 
‘transition to organic’ means the steps required to 
become a certified organic farm.’’; 
(6) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a national organic certifi-
cation cost-share program to assist’’ and insert-
ing the following: ‘‘a program, to be known as 
the ‘Opportunities in Organic program’— 
‘‘(1) to assist’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by 
striking ‘‘program established’’ and all that fol-
lows through the period at the end and insert-
ing ‘‘program; and’’; and 
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(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) to provide support and technical assistance 
for transition to organic and organic management.’’; 
(7) by inserting after subsection (b) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(c) FEDERAL
ORGANIC
CERTIFICATION
COST- 
SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) 
and (3), the Secretary shall pay under this sub-
section the costs incurred by a producer or handler 
in obtaining certification under the national organic 
production program, as certified to and approved by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—Except as provided 
in paragraph (3), the maximum amount of a pay-
ment made to a producer or handler under this sub-
section shall be $1,500. 
‘‘(3) 
ENSURING
AFFORDABILITY.—Notwith-
standing paragraph (2), the Secretary may make 
payments that exceed the maximum amount under 
that paragraph to ensure that organic certification 
costs are not a barrier to organic production, includ-
ing payment to a producer or handler who is— 
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‘‘(A) located in a region with dispropor-
tionately high certification costs, as determined 
by the Secretary; or 
‘‘(B) a member of a socially disadvantaged 
group. 
‘‘(d) SUPPORT FOR TRANSITION TO ORGANIC AND 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) TRANSITION AND RESILIENCE FUNDING.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
award funding to eligible nonprofit organiza-
tions— 
‘‘(i) to build capacity to support tran-
sition to organic in accordance with sub-
paragraph (B); and 
‘‘(ii) to support transition to organic 
in accordance with subparagraphs (C) and 
(D). 
‘‘(B) ACTIVITIES
TO
BUILD
CAPACITY.— 
An eligible nonprofit organization that is 
awarded funding under this subparagraph may 
use the funding for staffing, materials, activi-
ties, and partnerships (including partnerships 
with eligible nonprofit organizations described 
in subsection (a)(2)(E)) that support transition 
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to organic and resilience of certified organic 
farms, including— 
‘‘(i) the recruitment of producers to 
begin transition to organic; 
‘‘(ii) translation and communication 
support, including development of mate-
rials to increase understanding of the prac-
tices and processes required to become cer-
tified as organic; 
‘‘(iii) assistance with applications, 
compliance, recordkeeping, and other as-
pects of the organic certification process 
and the transition to organic; 
‘‘(iv) financial, business, natural re-
source conservation, and farm planning; 
‘‘(v) support for fair contracting; 
‘‘(vi) technical assistance with organic 
management practices, such as soil health, 
nutrient management, pest management, 
and other practices, as determined appro-
priate by the Secretary; 
‘‘(vii) by providing training on organic 
certification 
requirements 
and 
organic 
management to agricultural advisors and 
consultants, including agronomists, crop 
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advisors, pest control advisors, extension 
agents, farm consultants, and other tech-
nical service providers, and agricultural in-
dustry entities, such as seed dealers, equip-
ment suppliers, and input suppliers; 
‘‘(viii) by facilitating paid mentor- 
mentee relationships between organic pro-
ducers and producers in transition to or-
ganic, including stipends for all partici-
pants and training to support effective 
mentorship; 
‘‘(ix) by assisting producers with ac-
cessing resources and funding for pro-
grams associated with organic manage-
ment, including conservation programs, 
risk management tools, and organic sup-
port and research programs; 
‘‘(x) by establishing or expanding co-
operatives, organic grower groups, certified 
organic processing, storage, refrigeration, 
freezer, and distribution facilities and 
equipment, food hubs, food security pro-
grams, additional programs under the In-
digenous Food Sovereignty Initiative of the 
Department of Agriculture, organic-compli-
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ant composting services, and other regional 
foodshed and supply chain infrastructure, 
such as infrastructure for granaries and 
meat processing; 
‘‘(xi) 
on-farm 
research, 
including 
monitoring biodiversity, monitoring air and 
water quality, measuring changes in soil 
organic carbon and indicators of soil 
health, developing regionally adapted seeds 
and breeds, and carrying out trials and 
documenting the effectiveness of holistic 
approaches to pest, weed, and disease con-
trol; 
‘‘(xii) recruiting and training organic 
certification staff and inspectors, with an 
emphasis on expanding opportunities for 
socially disadvantaged farmers and ranch-
ers and increasing diversity in the certifi-
cation process; 
‘‘(xiii) increasing access to land for 
socially disadvantaged farmers and ranch-
ers and small and mid-sized farms and 
ranches and promoting long-term organic 
management (such as purchasing land for 
incubator projects, promoting and sup-
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porting lease-to-own contracts, resolving 
heirs property issues, and establishing 
easements that facilitate long-term organic 
stewardship); 
‘‘(xiv) supporting tenant farmers, in-
cluding through leasing options that serve 
tenants and landlords long term; 
‘‘(xv) hosting or supporting regional 
conventions, conferences, farmer-led train-
ing sessions and programs, field days, 
teach-ins, and other educational opportuni-
ties focused on organic production; and 
‘‘(xvi) establishing infrastructure for 
interfarmer skill sharing and exchanges, 
including virtual forums. 
‘‘(C) PRODUCER TRANSITION AND RESIL-
IENCE FUNDING.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible non-
profit organization that is awarded funding 
under this subparagraph may use the 
funding to provide transition and resilience 
funding to existing organic operations, so-
cially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, 
or small or mid-sized farms or ranches. 
‘‘(ii) TERM.— 
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‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—Funding pro-
vided under this subparagraph shall 
be for a term of 4 years. 
‘‘(II) 
1-TIME
FUNDING.—The 
Secretary may not renew funding pro-
vided to a recipient under this sub-
paragraph. 
‘‘(iii) 
USE
OF
FUNDS.—Funding 
awarded under clause (i) may be used to 
offset the costs of and reduce barriers to 
becoming or expanding a certified organic 
farm, including— 
‘‘(I) creating or expanding an or-
ganic system plan (as defined in sec-
tion 205.2 of title 7, Code of Federal 
Regulations (as in effect on the date 
of enactment of the Opportunities in 
Organic Act)), including— 
‘‘(aa) 
completing 
organic 
certification documents, planning, 
and recordkeeping; and 
‘‘(bb) developing a conserva-
tion plan to address all natural 
resources, including soil health; 
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‘‘(iv) ORGANIC SYSTEM PLAN.—As a 
condition of receiving funding under this 
subparagraph to carry out any of the ac-
tivities described in subclauses (II) through 
(XV) of clause (iii), an organic operation, 
socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, 
or small or mid-sized farm or ranch shall 
be required to develop an organic system 
plan described in subclause (I) of that 
clause. 
‘‘(D) ORGANIC SUPPLY CHAIN FUNDING.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible non-
profit organization that is awarded funding 
under this subparagraph may use the 
funding to support organic supply chain 
development, including by providing the 
funding to other entities to support organic 
supply chain development. 
‘‘(ii) 
USE
OF
FUNDS.—Funding 
awarded under clause (i)— 
‘‘(I) may be used to strengthen 
organic capacity or expand access to 
certified organic handling operations, 
including— 
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‘‘(aa) constructing, expand-
ing, or improving access to a cer-
tified organic handling operation; 
‘‘(bb) 
purchasing 
farm 
equipment, value added supplies, 
and other materials that improve 
market access; and 
‘‘(cc) pursuing organic cer-
tification for an existing handling 
operation; and 
‘‘(II) shall be used to strengthen 
opportunities in organic capacity for 
socially 
disadvantaged 
farmers 
or 
ranchers, small or mid-sized farms or 
ranches, vulnerable agricultural re-
gions (such as farms near schools, 
childcare providers, residential areas, 
and sensitive ecosystems), or under- 
resourced agricultural regions. 
‘‘(E) COMMUNICATIONS; MEETINGS.—An 
eligible nonprofit organization that receives 
funding under subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) 
shall— 
‘‘(i) communicate not less frequently 
than once per quarter with each other enti-
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ty awarded funding pursuant to those sub-
paragraphs— 
‘‘(I) to monitor progress with re-
spect to transition to organic and or-
ganic supply chain development; 
‘‘(II) to address improvements 
and impacts of the transition to or-
ganic, including observed changes in 
biodiversity, soil health, pests, weeds, 
and disease occurrence, crop yield, 
and resilience; 
‘‘(III) to address challenges asso-
ciated with transition to organic; 
‘‘(IV) to consider market oppor-
tunities and the adoption of additional 
practices; and 
‘‘(V) to explore opportunities for 
coordinated farm team meetings with 
staff from relevant agencies and orga-
nizations to streamline agricultural 
assistance and improve farm viability 
while increasing adoption of on-farm 
conservation practices; and 
‘‘(ii) meet not less frequently than an-
nually for each year for which funding is 
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provided with staff of the Department of 
Agriculture (as determined by the Sec-
retary) to discuss program participation 
and impacts, demographics and scale of 
participants, transition to organic success 
rates, market opportunities, research re-
sults, and challenges identified in the tran-
sition to organic. 
‘‘(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
increase regional resources to support organic 
management, including technical assistance, 
outreach, supply chain coordination, and activi-
ties described in subparagraph (B), through ex-
panded organic-related capacity and partner-
ships at— 
‘‘(i) the Department of Agriculture, 
including within the Agricultural Mar-
keting Service, the Farm Service Agency, 
the Natural Resources Conservation Serv-
ice, the Risk Management Agency, the of-
fices under the Undersecretary of Rural 
Development, the Food and Nutrition 
Service, and climate hubs, with an empha-
sis on local and regional offices; 
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‘‘(ii) universities and educational insti-
tutions, with an emphasis on institutions 
serving socially disadvantaged farmers and 
ranchers; 
‘‘(iii) the cooperative extension pro-
grams of the Secretary, including the Fed-
erally Recognized Tribes Extension Pro-
gram; 
‘‘(iv) State, regional, and Tribal de-
partments of agriculture; and 
‘‘(v) eligible nonprofit organizations. 
‘‘(B) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—Activities 
carried out through the entities described in 
subparagraph (A) shall include— 
‘‘(i) regional education sessions on or-
ganic management; 
‘‘(ii) the development of regionally tai-
lored resources, technical assistance pro-
grams, and teaching farms for organic pro-
ducers and producers in transition to or-
ganic, including tools to promote and fa-
cilitate participation of socially disadvan-
taged farmers and ranchers and small and 
mid-sized farms and ranches in organic 
and complementary support programs; 
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‘‘(iii) ongoing outreach to and needs 
assessment of producers in transition to 
organic to identify barriers to organic pro-
duction and mechanisms to address those 
barriers; 
‘‘(iv) the identification of priority lo-
cations to promote transition to organic, 
including near schools and childcare pro-
viders, residential areas, and sensitive eco-
systems; 
‘‘(v) organic supply chain and infra-
structure development; 
‘‘(vi) the expansion of organic and 
local supply chains and market opportuni-
ties, including establishing channels for 
producers to offer products to institutional 
buyers and supporting purchases through 
nutrition programs; and 
‘‘(vii) advancing food waste reduction 
strategies that support producer income 
and soil health, including— 
‘‘(I) closed-loop programs that 
connect community composting and 
food scrap collection operations with 
farms; and 
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‘‘(II) coordination to maximize 
use of farm products, composting, and 
waste reduction.’’; 
(8) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘including the number’’ 
and inserting the following: ‘‘including— 
‘‘(1) the number’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by 
striking the period at the end and inserting a 
semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) the demographics, acreage, and sales of 
producer participants that received support under 
the program, aggregated by region; 
‘‘(3) the number of producers and handlers 
that— 
‘‘(A) received support from the program in 
the previous fiscal year; 
‘‘(B) began transition to organic; and 
‘‘(C) achieved new organic certification; 
‘‘(4) any barriers to achieving organic certifi-
cation; 
‘‘(5) the transition to organic activities carried 
out by eligible nonprofit organizations and the 
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metrics used to evaluate the success of those activi-
ties; 
‘‘(6) research findings and best practices to 
support transition to organic; 
‘‘(7) changes in organic-relevant capacity at 
public institutions of higher education and eligible 
nonprofit organizations; and 
‘‘(8) changes in availability of organic-relevant 
technical assistance.’’; and 
(9) in subsection (f)(1) (as so redesignated), by 
striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(A) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2027 and 2028; 
‘‘(B) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and 
‘‘(C) $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2030 and 2031.’’. 
Æ 
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