I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7426 
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to support 
the prompt approval of certain loans and loan guarantees, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 9, 2026 
Mr. FINSTAD (for himself and Mr. GRAY) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act to support the prompt approval of certain loans 
and loan guarantees, 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 ‘‘USDA Express Loan 
Act of 2026’’. 
SEC. 2. PROMPT APPROVAL OF LOANS AND LOAN GUARAN-
TEES. 
Section 333A of the of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983a) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (g)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) REAL ESTATE AND OPERATING GUARAN-
TEED LOANS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
provide to lenders a short, simplified application 
form for real estate and operating guaranteed 
loans under this title, for loans of not more 
than $1,000,000. 
‘‘(B) NOTICE.—Within 5 business days 
after receipt of a complete application to guar-
antee a farm ownership or operating loan that 
meets the requirements under subparagraph 
(A) originated by a Preferred Certified Lender 
or Certified Lender, the Secretary shall notify 
the lender as to whether the application is ap-
proved or disapproved. 
‘‘(C) MAXIMUM
GUARANTEE.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of this Act, the 
percentage of the principal amount of a loan 
which may be guaranteed pursuant to this 
paragraph shall not exceed— 
‘‘(i) 90 percent, in the case of a loan 
not exceeding $125,000; 
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‘‘(ii) 75 percent, in the case of a loan 
of more than $125,000 and not more than 
$500,000; or 
‘‘(iii) 50 percent, in the case of a loan 
of more than $500,000 and not more than 
$1,000,000.’’; and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
(3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively, and 
inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 
‘‘(2) BUSINESS
AND
INDUSTRY
GUARANTEED 
LOANS TO ASSIST RURAL ENTITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
develop an application process that accelerates, 
to the maximum extent practicable, the proc-
essing of applications for business and industry 
guaranteed loans to assist rural entities, as de-
scribed under section 310B(a)(2)(A), for loans 
not exceeding $400,000. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—The accelerated appli-
cation process, as provided under subparagraph 
(A), shall apply to loans not exceeding 
$600,000 if there is not a significant increased 
risk of a default on the loan, as determined by 
the Secretary.’’; and 
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(2) by striking subsection (h). 
Æ 
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