Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4663
- 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
- 2026-06-26T19:00:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation appropriates emergency funding to assist states with agricultural losses caused by freezes or cold weather conditions. It aims to provide block grants for revenue, quality, or production losses in affected crops and related plantings.
Key Provisions
- Appropriation Amount: Provides $3,500,000,000 from the Treasury for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, to remain available until spent.
- Use of Funds: Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to issue block grants to states for losses in crops (including those prevented from planting), trees, bushes, and vines due to freeze or cold weather.
- Eligibility: Limits assistance to counties that received a disaster designation for freeze and related conditions issued on March 4, 2026; includes compensation for multi-year crop losses.
- Distribution Process: Funds become available only upon request from a state department of agriculture or other approved state agency.
- Reporting Requirements: Mandates the Secretary to submit reports to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees within 120 days of enactment and each fiscal quarter thereafter until funds are fully used.
- Emergency Designation: Classifies the amount as an emergency requirement under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new, one-time appropriations specifically targeted at recent freeze-related losses rather than amending broader agricultural programs. It does not alter existing statutes on disaster assistance but creates a dedicated block grant mechanism for the specified events.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Requires the Department of Agriculture to manage grant distribution, verify eligibility based on the March 2026 designations, and fulfill ongoing congressional reporting obligations.
- On Citizens: Offers direct financial support to agricultural producers in qualifying counties for crop and planting losses, potentially aiding recovery in affected rural areas.
- On International Relations: No provisions address or affect international trade, relations, or foreign entities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State departments of agriculture and other state agencies in impacted areas (primarily Florida, based on the bill's title and sponsors).
- Agricultural producers experiencing losses in designated counties.
- The Secretary of Agriculture and relevant USDA offices responsible for implementation.
- Congressional Appropriations Committees receiving required reports.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill invokes emergency spending authority, which may allow it to bypass standard budget limits. It emphasizes state-requested block grants, potentially streamlining aid while maintaining federal oversight through reporting. No constitutional issues are raised in the text, and the measure focuses solely on domestic agricultural relief.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
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
- Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act — issued 2026-06-02 — PDF (3 pages)