Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act

1/31/2024, 5:15 AM

Summary of Bill S 1237

Bill 118 s 1237, also known as the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to provide exemptions for family farms and small businesses from certain regulations and requirements that may be burdensome for them.

The bill aims to support and protect family farms and small businesses by reducing the regulatory burden they face. It seeks to exempt these entities from certain environmental, labor, and other regulations that may be overly restrictive or costly for them to comply with.

Proponents of the bill argue that family farms and small businesses play a crucial role in the US economy and should be given special consideration when it comes to regulations. They believe that by providing these exemptions, these entities will be able to thrive and continue to contribute to the economy. Opponents of the bill, however, raise concerns about the potential negative impact of exempting family farms and small businesses from regulations. They argue that these exemptions could lead to environmental degradation, exploitation of workers, and other harmful consequences. Overall, Bill 118 s 1237 is a controversial piece of legislation that seeks to provide exemptions for family farms and small businesses from certain regulations. Its fate in Congress remains uncertain as lawmakers continue to debate its merits and drawbacks.

Congressional Summary of S 1237

Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act

This bill restores an exemption for certain family farms and small businesses under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The bill applies to the net worth of (1) a family farm on which the family resides, or (2) a small business with not more than 100 full-time or full-time equivalent employees that is owned and controlled by the family.

Prior to recent changes made to FAFSA, the net worth of these family farms and small businesses were excluded as assets when calculating a student's financial need to determine federal student aid eligibility. Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the net worth of these farms and businesses will be treated as an asset and therefore included in the calculation. This bill restores the exemption to exclude such net worth from the calculation.

Current Status of Bill S 1237

Bill S 1237 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since April 20, 2023. Bill S 1237 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the Senate on April 20, 2023.  Bill S 1237's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. as of April 20, 2023

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 1237

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
18
Democrat Cosponsors
2
Republican Cosponsors
16
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 1237

Primary Policy Focus

Education

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 1237

Family Farm and Small Business Exemption ActFamily Farm and Small Business Exemption ActA bill to restore the exemption of family farms and small businesses from the definition of assets under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
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