Increasing Insurance Access for Specialty Crops Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4651
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-02: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-16T13:40:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4651: Increasing Insurance Access for Specialty Crops Act
Purpose
This legislation amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to improve access to federal crop insurance specifically for specialty crops, such as fruits, vegetables, and other non-traditional crops. It aims to achieve this by creating dedicated advisory structures and enhancing coordination within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's crop insurance system.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Specialty Crop Advisory Committee: The Secretary of Agriculture must create this committee within 180 days of the law's enactment. The committee will assist in researching, developing, and improving insurance policies for specialty crops.
- Composition includes a chairperson experienced in crop insurance and the specialty crop industry, plus 5 to 10 members total, with at least 5 being producers. Members must represent unique production methods, markets, and risks (e.g., weather, trade issues, supply disruptions), including at least one producer from each U.S. region (West, Midwest, South, Northeast).
- Integration into Existing Board: The committee chairperson joins the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation's Board as a member.
- Updated Role of the Specialty Crops Coordinator: The coordinator's duties now include serving as a liaison to the new committee and using producer expertise to address specialty crop needs in insurance programs.
- Consultation Requirement: The Corporation must consult the committee during its annual review of new and specialty crop insurance policies.
- Committee Duties: These include advising on policies, providing input to the Board, recommending improvements to educational programs for producers, and meeting at least twice per year.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new subsection (f) to Section 505 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, creating the advisory committee and adjusting Board membership rules.
- Revises Section 507(g) to expand the Specialty Crops Coordinator's responsibilities to include direct collaboration with the committee.
- Modifies Section 508(a)(6)(A) to mandate committee consultation in policy reviews, shifting from an internal process to one involving external stakeholder input.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases administrative responsibilities for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including committee formation, meetings, and integration into decision-making. This may require additional resources for coordination and research.
- On Citizens: Specialty crop producers could gain better-tailored insurance options, potentially reducing financial risks from unique crop challenges. Broader agricultural communities may see indirect benefits through improved risk management tools.
- On International Relations: No direct effects are outlined in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Specialty crop producers and their representatives across U.S. regions.
- The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and its Board.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture, including the Risk Management Agency.
- Agricultural educational and research entities involved in crop insurance programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill expands advisory input in federal agricultural policy without altering core constitutional authorities, as it operates within existing USDA frameworks. It promotes regional and producer representation but does not introduce new enforcement mechanisms or penalties. No explicit political or constitutional conflicts are addressed in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-02: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2026-06-02: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Increasing Insurance Access for Specialty Crops Act — issued 2026-06-02 — PDF (6 pages)