HR5710-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Bridge the Gap for Rural Communities Act.

2. Suspension of payment limitations for crop year 2025 Section 1001(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following: Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to a person or legal entity for crop year 2025. (10)Suspension of payment limitations for crop year 2025Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to a person or legal entity for crop year 2025..

3. Availability of advance partial payments for crop year 2025 Section 1115 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9015) is amended by adding at the end the following: Not later than December 31, 2025, the Secretary shall provide to producers on a farm that make an election under paragraph (2) a partial payment with respect to each payment to such producer for the payment acres for each covered commodity on the farm under subsection (i). Not later than December 1, 2025, a producer may opt to receive partial payments under this subsection by notifying the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency in such manner as the Administrator determines appropriate. Notwithstanding subsection (a), a partial payment under this subsection shall be equal to 50 percent of the projected payment for the covered commodity for the 2025 crop year under subsection (i), as determined by the Secretary. For purposes of determining the amount of the projected payment under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall use— the projected average farm price for the applicable eligible commodity for the 2025–2026 marketing year contained in the most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates published before the date of enactment of this Act by the World Agricultural Outlook Board; or if such projected average farm price is not available with respect to a covered commodity, a comparable projected price per acre for such covered commodity, as determined by the Secretary. In the case of a producer on a farm that opts to receive a partial payment under subsection (j) for a covered commodity for the 2025 crop year with respect to payment acres for the covered commodity on the farm, the Secretary shall, beginning October 1, or as soon as practicable thereafter, after the end of the applicable marketing year for the covered commodity, provide a subsequent payment to the producer in an amount equal to— the payment amount for such payment acres for the covered commodity determined under subsection (i) for the 2025 crop year; minus the amount provided for such payment acres for the covered commodity under subsection (j) for the 2025 crop year. In the case of a producer described in paragraph (1) that receives in the aggregate with respect to a covered commodity for crop year 2025 an amount that is greater than the amount described in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph, the producer shall repay the Secretary such excess amount, without interest. A payment made under subsections (j) and (k) may be assigned in accordance with part 1404 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations. (j)Availability of advance partial payments for crop year 2025 (1)In generalNot later than December 31, 2025, the Secretary shall provide to producers on a farm that make an election under paragraph (2) a partial payment with respect to each payment to such producer for the payment acres for each covered commodity on the farm under subsection (i). (2)Option to receive partial paymentsNot later than December 1, 2025, a producer may opt to receive partial payments under this subsection by notifying the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency in such manner as the Administrator determines appropriate. (3)AmountNotwithstanding subsection (a), a partial payment under this subsection shall be equal to 50 percent of the projected payment for the covered commodity for the 2025 crop year under subsection (i), as determined by the Secretary. (4)Determination of projected priceFor purposes of determining the amount of the projected payment under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall use— (A)the projected average farm price for the applicable eligible commodity for the 2025–2026 marketing year contained in the most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates published before the date of enactment of this Act by the World Agricultural Outlook Board; or (B)if such projected average farm price is not available with respect to a covered commodity, a comparable projected price per acre for such covered commodity, as determined by the Secretary. (k)Subsequent payment for crop year 2025 (1)In generalIn the case of a producer on a farm that opts to receive a partial payment under subsection (j) for a covered commodity for the 2025 crop year with respect to payment acres for the covered commodity on the farm, the Secretary shall, beginning October 1, or as soon as practicable thereafter, after the end of the applicable marketing year for the covered commodity, provide a subsequent payment to the producer in an amount equal to— (A)the payment amount for such payment acres for the covered commodity determined under subsection (i) for the 2025 crop year; minus (B)the amount provided for such payment acres for the covered commodity under subsection (j) for the 2025 crop year. (2)OverpaymentIn the case of a producer described in paragraph (1) that receives in the aggregate with respect to a covered commodity for crop year 2025 an amount that is greater than the amount described in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph, the producer shall repay the Secretary such excess amount, without interest. (l)Clarification relating to assignment of partial and subsequent paymentsA payment made under subsections (j) and (k) may be assigned in accordance with part 1404 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations..