A–PLUS Act
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
This bill, the A-PLUS Act, directs the Department of Agriculture to update its regulations to allow smaller meatpacking businesses to be owned or financed by livestock auction markets. Specifically, it allows packers with limited slaughter capacity – under 2,000 animals per day for cattle and sheep, or 10,000 animals per day for hogs – to have relationships with market agencies. The bill also requires market agencies with these relationships to disclose this information to livestock sellers to ensure transparency and prevent conflicts of interest.
Key provisions
- USDA must revise regulations to allow packers with limited slaughter capacity to have ownership interests in market agencies.
- Packers limited to under 2,000 daily cattle/sheep slaughter or 10,000 daily hog slaughter are eligible.
- Market agencies can finance or participate in the management of packers meeting the capacity requirements.
- Market agencies with these relationships must disclose this information to livestock sellers.
- The revision applies to regulations as of January 1, 2025.
Who is affected
- Livestock auction markets
- Meatpacking businesses
- Livestock sellers
- The Department of Agriculture
- The livestock industry
Notable changes
- Requires disclosure of relationships between market agencies and packers.
Bill text
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