October 28, 2025

Agricultural Law Weekly Review—October 28, 2025

Tues. Oct. 28: AgWorks: Legal Authority to Work in the U.S. and Other Pre-Employment Screening Processes

Fri. Oct. 31: Understanding Immigration Compliance: I-9s, Audits and ICE Raids (FREE Attorney CLE!)

National Agricultural Policy: USDA Announces Plan to ‘Strengthen American Beef Industry’ 🌾
On October 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a three-pronged plan to “strengthen the American beef industry.” Among several actions, USDA states that, “[e]ffective January 1, 2026, [Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)] inspection personnel will begin enforcing compliance on FSIS-regulated products that bear voluntary ‘Product of USA,’ ‘Made in the USA,’ and other U.S.-origin claims before they may enter commerce.” Under the plan, USDA also states that “FSIS will temporarily reduce overtime and holiday inspection fees by 75% for very small processors and 30% for small processors . . . begin[ing] . . . in early 2026, which can be retroactive to October 1, 2025.” Additionally, USDA states that the Rural Business-Cooperative Service “will publish a [notice of funding opportunity] in late 2025 creating a grant application window for a fourth round of [Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program],” which the agency states will provide grants “up to $2 million per award.”

Agricultural Transportation: President Issues Proclamation Applying 25% Tariff to Medium, Heavy Duty Vehicles
On October 17, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation titled “Adjusting Imports of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Parts, and Buses into the United States” (90 FR 48451) and attached Annex I, along with an accompanying fact sheet. According to the proclamation, beginning on November 1, 2025, the administration will “impose a 25% tariff on imports of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and truck parts,” which “include[s] Class 3 to Class 8 vehicles, like large pick-up trucks, moving trucks, cargo trucks, dump trucks, and tractors for eighteen-wheelers.”

Agricultural Labor: California Governor Vetoes Farmworker Heat Illness Bill
On October 13, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 1336, which would have “create[d] a disputable presumption that a heat-related injury that develops within a specified timeframe after working outdoors for an employer in the agriculture industry that fails to comply with heat illness prevention standards . . . arose out of and came in the course of employment.” The bill would require the appeals board to find in favor of the employee unless the employer rebuts that presumption, among other things. The Governor’s veto document stated that “creating a presumption in the workers’ compensation system is not an effective way to protect California farmworkers from the risk of heat-related illnesses.” The Governor also stated that the “tension” will lead to delays and negatively impact workers’ benefits.

 

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Understanding Agricultural Law Series. A free monthly Zoom webinar series for agricultural and rural business advisors. One hour of substantive CLE credit available for Pennsylvania-licensed attorneys at no charge. All events on Fridays, noon–1 pm (ET). Upcoming:

Oct. 31, 2025, Understanding Immigration Compliance: I-9s, Audits and ICE Raids

Nov. 21, 2025, Understanding the Basics of Cell Cultured Foods & Labeling Laws

Dec. 12, 2025, Understanding the Clean Water Act & Ag: Biosolids & Food Processing Waste Land Application

Jan. 23, 2026, Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Law

Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar Series. A free quarterly Zoom webinar series covering dairy industry legal and regulatory developments with an in-depth focus topic. One hour of substantive CLE credit available for Pennsylvania-licensed attorneys at no charge. All events on Tuesdays, noon–1 pm (ET). Upcoming:

Jan. 13, 2026, 4th Quarter 2025 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar

AgWorks: Connecting Agricultural Businesses to Workforce Services and Training. From 2025 to 2027, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law and Penn State Extension will collaborate with farms and agriculture-related businesses to strengthen the workforce system. AgWorks will provide 100 registered small- to medium-sized Pennsylvania farms and agribusinesses with no-cost training and consultation to ensure business sustainability. As part of the AgWorks program, the Center for Agricultural and Shale Law will present 20+ employment law programs. Upcoming:

Subscribe to the Pennsylvania Farm Employers’ Listserv (PFEL): an email networking and resource-sharing group exclusively about human resources information for agricultural operations.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Legal Services Plan: “A new member-benefit program involving law firms that specialize in legal areas commonly utilized by farmers.”

Resources of Interest:

Southern Ag Today, Recent Updates to the H-2A Program, Samantha Capaldo (Univ. Maryland) (October 24, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. Farm Policy News, Half of States to Cut Off SNAP Benefits in November, Ryan Hanrahan (October 24, 2025)

Iowa St. Univ. Ctr. Agric. Law & Tax’n, Impact of Government Shutdown on Farmers, Kristiana Coutu (October 23, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. FarmDoc Daily, Swampbuster Stands, Part 2: The Constitutionality of Conservation Compliance, Andrew Hockenberry, Jonathan Coppess, and Bryan Endres (October 23, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. Farm Policy News, Trump, Cattle Ranchers Beefing over Planned Quadrupling of Argentine Imports, Ryan Hanrahan (October 23, 2025)

Ohio St. Univ. Ext. Farm Off. Blog, Carbon Capture and Storage legislation and prospect of pore space leasing moves forward in Ohio, Peggy Kirk Hall (October 23, 2025)

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., ‘MAHA’ Movement: Defining Ultra-processed Foods, Emily Stone (October 21, 2025)

Univ. Md. Risk Mgmt. Educ. Blog, How to Hold Title to Property, Olivia Scuderi (October 21, 2025)

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., UADA news release: Federal court dismisses ‘forever chemicals’ suit by farmers against EPA, Ramie Parsons (October 20, 2025)

Tex. A&M Agric. Law Blog, Federal Appellate Court Upholds Massachusetts Question 3 Animal Confinement Law, Tiffany Dowell Lashmet (October 20, 2025)

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PRESS RELEASES

Shapiro Administration Reminds Poultry Farmers of Available Relief Funds, Urges Tightened Biosecurity to Protect Industry and Food Supply (October 23, 2025)

PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 43—October 25, 2025):         

Department of Environmental Protection

55 Pa.B. 7473 Notice: “Reissuance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Stormwater Associated with Mining Activities (BMP GP-104)”

55 Pa.B. 7475 Notice: “State Implementation Plan Revision; Concerning Reasonable Available Control Technology Determinations for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards; Extension of Public Comment Period”

State Conservation Commission

55 Pa.B. 7483 Notice: “Action on Odor Management Plans for Concentrated Animal Operations and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and Volunteers Complying with the Commonwealth’s Facility Odor Management Program”

PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE

HB 1992 “An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, providing for surplus donation farmer tax credit; and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.” Referred to Finance [House] (October 24, 2025)

SB 1068 “An Act providing for the abrogation of regulations relating to the CO2 Budget Trading Program.” Referred to Environmental & Natural Resource Protection [House] (October 23, 2025)

HB 1981 “An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in registration of vehicles, further providing for vehicles exempt from registration; and, in fees, further providing for farm vehicles.” Referred to Transportation [House] (October 23, 2025)

SB 1058 “An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in liquid fuels and fuels tax, further providing for definitions.” First consideration [Senate] (October 22, 2025)

HR 352 “A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on litter law enforcement and provide recommendations.” Referred to Environmental & Natural Resource Protection [House] (October 21, 2025)

SB 49 “An Act establishing the Cannabis Control Board; providing for powers and duties of the Cannabis Control Board; establishing the Cannabis Regulation Fund; providing for permits and for dispensing cannabis to patients and caregivers; and making repeals.” First consideration [Senate] (October 21, 2025)

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

EPA Releases New Resources to Help Protect Water Systems, Strengthen Cyber Resilience (October 23, 2025)

EPA Updates Lead Guidance to Accelerate Cleanup of Superfund, Hazardous Waste Sites Across the Nation (October 20, 2025)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) PRESS RELEASES

Secretary Rollins Announces Plan for American Ranchers and Consumers (October 22, 2025)

USDA AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

None.

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register: October 20–24, 2025):

None.

U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

H.R.5827 “To advance bipartisan, common sense solutions.” Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, Education and Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, Agriculture, Appropriations, Armed Services, the Budget, Rules, Ethics, Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, House Administration, the Judiciary, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Oversight and Government Reform, Small Business, and Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned (October 24, 2025)

H.R.5823 “To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out emergency watershed protection measures on National Forest System land, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (October 24, 2025)

H.R.5818 “To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to prohibit retailers from designating the United States as the country of origin of foreign beef, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (October 24, 2025)

H.R.5804 “Providing Robust Organics and Diets for Urban Communities Everywhere Act” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (October 21, 2025)

H.R.4550 “United States Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2025” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably (October 21, 2025)

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY 

H.R.1612 “Flatside Wilderness Additions Act” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

H.R.197 “Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

S.2440 “A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National Forest System land located in Franklin County, Mississippi, and for other purposes.” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

S.1876 “Stratton Ridge Air Force Memorial Act” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

S.1681 “Shenandoah Mountain Act” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

S.1680 “Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2025” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

S.1462 “Fix Our Forests Act” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

S.1376 “Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

S.1350 “A bill to modify the boundaries of the Talladega National Forest, and for other purposes.” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

S.1262 “A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to release a reversionary interest in certain land in the Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin, and for other purposes.” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

S.638 “A bill to amend the Act of June 22, 1948.” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

S.277 “A bill to release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.” Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (October 21, 2025)

U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE—UPCOMING HEARINGS

None.

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY—UPCOMING HEARINGS  

U.S. Senate Ag. Comm., Nomination Hearing, October 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM ET

 

Contributors:
Audry Thompson—Staff Attorney
Christina Fraser—Research Assistant
Riley Amdor—Research Assistant