A Democratic bill with 6 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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
The Fair Seeds for Farmers Act aims to amend the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. The bill seeks to limit intellectual property protection specifically for plants, plant varieties, or plant germplasm. It restricts such protections to only those provided under the Plant Variety Protection Act or the Plant Patent Act of 1930. Additionally, the bill prohibits the enforcement of contracts that limit the use of biological materials for purposes like seed saving or research. This change would apply to patent applications filed on or after the date of enactment.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +8
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill directly benefits farmers by protecting their ability to save seeds and engage in breeding without facing legal enforcement of restrictive contracts.
- Scored +7
Does this make patent and copyright rules fairer?
The bill increases fairness by limiting the scope of patent protections for biological materials to specific existing acts.
- Scored +6
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill supports small-scale farmers and researchers by prohibiting the enforcement of contracts that limit seed saving and plant experimentation.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased freedom for research and farming: Under Section 2(a)(2), no contractual obligation or agreement can be enforced that limits the use of plants, plant varieties, germplasm, or other biological material for research, breeding, experimentation, seed saving, or propagation. This could benefit those involved in these activities by preventing legal restrictions on their work.
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Clearer scope for biological materials: Section 2(c)(1) defines 'germplasm' as plant material capable of propagation, including seeds, pollen, tubers, or rootstock, which could provide clarity for those using these materials for breeding, conservation, or research.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Reduced intellectual property protections: Section 2(a)(1) states that no protection may be provided under any Federal law with respect to a plant, plant variety, or plant germplasm, except under specific laws described in subsection (b). This limits the breadth of protection available for these biological materials.
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Limited legal recourse for certain agreements: Because Section 2(a)(2) prevents the enforcement of certain contractual obligations, parties who rely on those contracts to limit the use of biological materials for research or seed saving would no longer be able to enforce those terms.
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 bill directly benefits farmers by protecting their ability to save seeds and engage in breeding without facing legal enforcement of restrictive contracts. Would business owners be better off under this? — Small agricultural business owners benefit from the ability to save and propagate seeds freely. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill empowers rural agricultural communities by lowering barriers to plant propagation and research. Would students be better off under this? — The bill benefits agricultural and biological researchers by ensuring easier access to germplasm for study. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Reducing costs associated with seed patent enforcement may provide indirect economic relief to low-income food consumers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill may lower costs for small-scale agricultural producers who are often middle-income.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make patent and copyright rules fairer? — The bill increases fairness by limiting the scope of patent protections for biological materials to specific existing acts. Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill removes legal barriers to using plant materials for research and breeding purposes.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill provides practical benefits to rural farming communities by legalizing the practice of seed saving and propagation without contractual restriction. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — By allowing freer access to germplasm, the bill may facilitate biological conservation and plant breeding research.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill supports small-scale farmers and researchers by prohibiting the enforcement of contracts that limit seed saving and plant experimentation.
- 10/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/1/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/22/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/14/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Greg CasarDemocrat · Texas
Maxwell FrostDemocrat · Florida
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Mark PocanDemocrat · Wisconsin
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington