A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
H.R. 10744, known as the Red Meat Inspection Exemption Act, was introduced in the House on October 5, 2026. The bill amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to provide exemptions for small-scale red meat producers and processors. Under the bill, the Secretary must exempt certain meat and meat food products from inspection requirements when intended for direct distribution by the producer to the consumer. This direct distribution can happen on the farm, at farm stands, at farmers markets, and at other direct transaction venues. To qualify, producers must meet specific animal slaughter limits in the preceding calendar year. The bill also states that it does not preempt any more permissive State laws regarding farm-level slaughter, preparation, or sale of meat products.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Would farmers be better off under this?
The Red Meat Inspection Exemption Act directly benefits small-scale livestock producers by allowing inspection-free direct distribution of meat to consumers.
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
Small-scale livestock producers and farm owners benefit from reduced federal inspection hurdles when selling directly to consumers.
- Scored +6
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill exempts small-scale red meat producers from federal inspection requirements for direct-to-consumer sales, making it easier to operate farm stands and sell at farmers markets.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 allows the Secretary to exempt from inspection requirements certain meat or meat food products intended for direct distribution by the producer directly to the consumer at places like farm stands and farmers markets. This could benefit small-scale producers by making it easier to sell their goods directly to the public without standard inspection hurdles.
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Section 3 ensures the non-preemption of certain State laws, meaning the bill does not preempt any State law that provides exemptions from State requirements for farm slaughter, preparation, or meat sales that are more permissive than the bill's exemptions. This benefits people by allowing states to keep or pass rules that are even more relaxed for local producers.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 2 sets specific slaughter limits that a producer must not exceed in the preceding calendar year to qualify for the exemption, such as not more than 25 cattle, 60 swine, 250 sheep, or 250 goats. This could burden or exclude producers who slaughter amounts just above these strict caps from participating in the exemption.
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Section 2 also states that the exemption shall not apply if a livestock producer slaughters or processes the products of more than 200 cattle, 500 swine, 2,000 sheep, or 2,000 goats in the preceding calendar year. This creates a hard cutoff that could negatively impact growing small businesses that exceed these exact volume limits.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The Red Meat Inspection Exemption Act directly benefits small-scale livestock producers by allowing inspection-free direct distribution of meat to consumers. Would business owners be better off under this? — Small-scale livestock producers and farm owners benefit from reduced federal inspection hurdles when selling directly to consumers.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill exempts small-scale red meat producers from federal inspection requirements for direct-to-consumer sales, making it easier to operate farm stands and sell at farmers markets.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — By lowering regulatory burdens for local meat producers, the bill supports agricultural enterprise and rural economic activity.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill explicitly preserves more permissive state laws regarding farm slaughter and meat sales, ensuring states retain regulatory authority.
- 10/5/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Eric BurlisonRepublican · Missouri
Chellie PingreeDemocrat · Maine