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H 4384

Farm Export Relief and Resilience Act

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Bauer and 12 co-sponsors

Establishes SC Farm Export Trade Relief Fund to aid export-dependent farmers with grants/loans, market access, and crop-insurance tweaks; administered by Agriculture; $10M initial.

Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 4384

Summary — H 4384: “Farm Export Relief and Resilience Act”

Note: The package of text you provided contains two different and unrelated bills (a South Carolina “Farm Export Relief and Resilience Act” and a Massachusetts local charter change for the Town of Plainville). The summary below focuses on the Farm Export Relief and Resilience Act (the export-relief provisions appearing as a proposed Chapter 59 added to Title 46).

Purpose and intent

To help South Carolina agricultural producers who rely on international markets cope with disruptions caused by federal tariffs, export bans or other trade actions, by establishing a state-administered relief fund, promoting market development, and designing state-supported crop insurance enhancements to improve trade resilience.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the South Carolina Farm Export Trade Relief Fund (to be held in the State Treasury) and places administration with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
  • Fund uses:
    • Grants or low-interest loans to eligible producers negatively impacted by federal tariffs, international trade disruptions, or export bans.
    • Emergency working capital assistance for short-term operations, debt service, and crop-transition support.
  • Eligibility requirements:
    • A significant portion of the producer’s income must come from exports.
    • A documented reduction in international market access, prices, or demand attributable to federal action.
  • Administration and governance:
    • Department of Agriculture must develop eligibility criteria, application processes, loan repayment schedules and award guidelines in consultation with the State Treasurer and the South Carolina Agricultural Council.
    • Initial capitalization: an authorized appropriation of $10,000,000, with additional appropriations permitted as needed.
  • Market development duties:
    • Department must partner with regional trade offices and federal agencies to open/expand export markets, promote value‑added export products, and participate in international trade delegations and expositions.
  • Crop insurance collaboration:
    • Department of Agriculture, South Carolina Department of Insurance, and Clemson University Cooperative Extension must develop proposals for state-supported crop insurance enhancements.
    • Possible insurance measures include premium subsidies for export‑reliant crops, supplemental coverage for price losses tied to international policy shifts, and pilots for climate‑resilient/market‑flexible crops.
  • Reporting and effective date:
    • Department must report annually to the General Assembly on fund disbursements/repayments, market-development progress, and recommendations for future trade resilience strategies.
    • Effective upon gubernatorial approval.

Who is affected

  • Primary: South Carolina agricultural producers with significant export exposure.
  • State agencies: Department of Agriculture (administrator), Department of Insurance, State Treasurer, Clemson University Cooperative Extension, South Carolina Agricultural Council.
  • State budget: initial $10 million appropriation plus potential future appropriations.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Short-term financial relief and working capital for export‑dependent farms facing federal trade disruptions.
  • Administrative burden on the Department of Agriculture to implement criteria, manage disbursements, and run market-development programs.
  • Fiscal impact on the state budget depending on additional appropriations and loan repayment performance.
  • Interaction with federal trade policy and federal crop insurance programs; careful program design will be needed to avoid duplication and to target producers demonstrably harmed by federal actions.
  • The crop-insurance proposals could provide complementary risk-management tools but may require additional appropriations and regulatory design.

Procedural / status note

  • Text indicates the act “takes effect upon approval by the Governor” and requires annual reporting thereafter.
  • The materials you provided also include unrelated Massachusetts municipal bill language; please verify the correct jurisdiction and bill tracking number on the applicable state legislative website before citing status or next steps.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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