Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2023

Senate Bill

S. 96

119th Congress

Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2023

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 15, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Marsha Blackburn

R - TN

Cosponsors

10

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Taxation

Summary

This bill addresses discrimination against Black farmers by the USDA and provides pathways for land ownership, debt relief, and agricultural support. It responds to decades of documented discrimination in USDA lending programs that led to massive loss of Black-owned farmland in America.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Introduced1/15/2025

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

ChamberSenate

Data from Congress.gov

See this page through your district lens

Enter ZIP to personalize representatives and vote context.

Stay on top of this issue

Subscribe for weekly bill and representative updates.

Vote Prediction

Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2023

This bill addresses discrimination against Black farmers by the USDA and provides pathways for land ownership, debt relief, and agricultural support. It responds to decades of documented discrimination in USDA lending programs that led to massive loss of Black

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill addresses discrimination against Black farmers by the USDA and provides pathways for land ownership, debt relief, and agricultural support. It responds to decades of documented discrimination in USDA lending programs that led to massive loss of Black-owned farmland in America.

Bill Number: 96
Introduced: 1/15/2025
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Policy Area: Taxation

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2023
Bill Number: 96
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced: 1/15/2025
Summary: This bill addresses discrimination against Black farmers by the USDA and provides pathways for land ownership, debt relief, and agricultural support. It responds to decades of documented discrimination in USDA lending programs that led to massive loss of Black-owned farmland in America.

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill addresses discrimination against Black farmers by the USDA and provides pathways for land ownership, debt relief, and agricultural support. It responds to decades of documented discrimination in USDA lending programs that led to massive loss of Black-owned farmland in America.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Fostering Autonomy in Independent Returns by Prohibiting Redundant and Extralegal Programs Act of 2025 or the FAIR PREP Act of 2025This bill prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from preparing federal tax returns or refund claims, with some exceptions. The bill specifically prohibits the preparation of federal income tax returns or refund claims through the IRS’s Direct File program. (The Direct File program currently allows qualified taxpayers in 25 participating states to prepare and electronically file free federal tax returns through a portal on the IRS’s website.)The bill defines prepare with respect to federal tax returns and refund claims as (1) the completion (in whole or in part) of any form or schedule for the purpose of calculating federal taxes or refunds, and (2) the filing (either electronically or on paper) of such federal tax returns or refund claims.However, under the bill, federal and state tax returns and refund claims may be prepared through the IRS’s Free File program (a program that allows certain taxpayers to prepare and file free federal and state income tax returns using third-party tax-preparation software) or the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grant program (through which the IRS partners with local community organizations to help low-income and disabled individuals and persons with limited English proficiency prepare and file free federal and state income tax returns). Further, the Department of the Treasury may not award grants or enter into contracts or other transactions for the development or operation of an electronic tax preparation service.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Addresses historic USDA discrimination against Black farmers
Provides debt relief for affected farmers
Creates land ownership opportunities
Supports Black agricultural communities
Responds to documented lending discrimination

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Black farmers who faced USDA discrimination would receive relief and support. The bill addresses the legacy of biased lending that reduced Black farm ownership from 14 percent in 1920 to less than 2 percent today. It aims to revitalize Black agricultural communities.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Taxation

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

96, 119th Congress (2025). "Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2023". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-96

Public Opinions

Community submissions related to this bill.

Share your opinion

No public opinions yet. Be the first to submit one for this bill.

Related Bills in Taxation

HR 1827

Child Care Availability and Affordability Act

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

HR 2927

All-Americans Tax Relief Act of 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

HR 2918

Family Business Legacy Act of 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

S 1481

LOCAL Infrastructure Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.