PRIME Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4700

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-04-23T08:07:01Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation, titled the "Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act" (PRIME Act), aims to update federal rules on meat processing by exempting certain intrastate (within-state) activities at custom slaughter facilities from mandatory federal inspections. This is intended to support local meat production and distribution while relying on state regulations for oversight.

Key Provisions

• Exemption from Federal Inspection: Amends Section 23 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) to create a new exemption for the slaughter of animals and preparation of carcasses, meat, and meat products at custom slaughter facilities. This applies only if:
• The activities follow the laws of the state where the facility is located.
• The products are distributed exclusively within that state to household consumers or to establishments like restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, grocery stores, or similar businesses that prepare meals for direct consumer service or sell meat directly to consumers in the state.
• Definition of "State": Includes all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories or possessions.
• No Preemption of State Laws: The changes do not override or replace any state regulations on animal slaughter, carcass preparation, or meat sales at custom facilities.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Redesignation and Insertion: The bill redesignates existing paragraphs in Section 23 of the FMIA (shifting (b), (c), and (d) to (c), (d), and (e)) and inserts a new paragraph (b) to establish the exemption. It also updates a reference in the redesignated paragraph (c) from "paragraph (b)" to "paragraph (c)" for consistency.
• Expansion of Exempt Distribution: Previously, exemptions under the FMIA for custom slaughter were more limited (e.g., mainly for personal use). This bill broadens it to include sales to certain in-state businesses like restaurants and grocery stores, as long as the meat stays within the state and complies with state rules.
• Shift from Federal to State Oversight: Moves primary responsibility for safety and standards from federal inspectors (under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA) to state authorities for these intrastate operations.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Reduces the workload and costs for the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, as federal inspections would no longer be required for exempted intrastate custom slaughter activities. This could free up resources for interstate or export-focused inspections.
• On Citizens: May increase access to locally produced meat for consumers by easing barriers for small-scale producers, potentially lowering prices and supporting rural economies. However, it could introduce variability in food safety standards depending on state laws.
• On International Relations: No direct impact, as the exemptions are limited to intrastate activities and do not affect interstate commerce, exports, or imports, which remain under federal jurisdiction.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Custom Slaughter Facilities: Gain relief from federal inspection requirements, potentially reducing operational costs and enabling more efficient local processing.
• Small Farmers and Ranchers: Benefit from easier access to affordable slaughter services for intrastate sales, helping them compete without full federal compliance burdens.
• Consumers and Businesses: Household buyers, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and similar establishments in affected states could see more locally sourced meat options available for purchase or use in meals.
• State Governments: Take on greater responsibility for regulating these facilities, which may require updates to their own inspection and safety laws.
• USDA and Federal Regulators: Experience a narrower scope of mandatory inspections, shifting some accountability to states.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Reinforces federalism (the division of powers between federal and state governments) by allowing states to set their own standards for intrastate meat processing, without federal preemption. This could lead to legal challenges if state variations result in perceived inconsistencies in food safety, potentially invoking the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution (which gives Congress authority over interstate trade).
• Constitutional Implications: Aligns with principles of state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment, as it limits federal overreach into purely local activities. However, it maintains federal protections for interstate commerce to avoid constitutional conflicts.
• Political Implications: The bill has bipartisan sponsorship (from both Republican and Democratic members), suggesting broad support for local agriculture and deregulation in rural areas. It could spark debates on balancing economic growth for small producers against national food safety uniformity, especially amid ongoing concerns about supply chain issues in meat production.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4]

Cosponsors (47)

Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Greene, Marjorie Taylor [R-GA-14], Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7], Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5], Rep. Spartz, Victoria [R-IN-5], Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2], Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2025-07-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act — issued 2025-07-23 — PDF (4 pages)