Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act

Increased market access via grants: The Secretary of Agriculture will establish a competitive grant program to support new or expanding food hubs, which can be used to purchase land, buildings, equipment, and marketing services to help socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (Section 2(b)).

Priority for underserved communities: Grant applications may be given priority if they benefit underserved communities or involve the aggregation and marketing of foods that meet donated food standards (Section 2(b)(4)).

Support for USDA domestic food assistance: The Secretary is tasked with creating a process to prioritize purchasing agricultural products from socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers for use in USDA domestic food assistance programs (Section 2(c)(1)).

Tax incentives for food hubs: A new tax credit is created, allowing taxpayers to claim an amount equal to 25 percent of qualified food hub expenses (Section 3(a)).

Enhanced civil rights accountability: USDA officials and employees will be held accountable through corrective actions, which may include disciplinary measures like suspension or removal, if they engage in discriminatory actions, harassment, or civil rights violations (Section 4(a)-(c)).

Easier access to relief: The Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights will have the authority to grant relief to participants who file civil rights program complaints without needing prior approval from other officers (Section 5(a)).

Protection in legal proceedings: For hearings within the National Appeals Division, the agency will now bear the burden of proving that an adverse decision was valid by substantial evidence (Section 6).

Dedicated assistance through an Ombudsperson: The creation of an Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson will help producers navigate the civil rights review process and ensure they are aware of the appeals process (Section 7(d)).

Bureaucratic requirements for grants: Entities seeking grants must submit detailed applications including descriptions of activities, competency demonstrations, and lists of eligible partners (Section 2(b)(3)).

Restrictions on tax credits: The agriculture hub credit will not apply to taxable years beginning after the Secretary determines the grant program has ended (Section 3(a)(d)).

Impact on USDA employee discipline: The bill mandates that appropriate corrective action be taken for misconduct, which includes potential disciplinary actions such as reduction in grade or pay, suspension without pay, or removal from Federal service (Section 4(c)).