HR 1624119th CongressIn Committee

Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2025

Introduced: Feb 26, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2025 would direct the Secretary of Labor to keep the adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) for H-2A nonimmigrants at the level that was in effect in each state on December 31, 2023, through December 31, 2026. In other words, it freezes the state-by-state AEWR for three years. The bill also requires the Secretary to use a primary duties evaluation to determine the wage when H-2A workers perform more than one duty, clarifying how to assign wages when multiple tasks are involved. Overall, the measure aims to provide wage stability for farm employers hiring through the H-2A program while establishing a specific method for evaluating multi-task job duties.

Key Points

1Freezes the state-level adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) for H-2A workers that was in effect on December 31, 2023, and keeps it in place through December 31, 2026.
2Applies specifically to nonimmigrants admitted under H-2A (temporary agricultural workers) as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
3Section 3 requires the use of a primary duties evaluation to determine the wage when workers perform more than one duty or task, clarifying how to assign wages in multi-task jobs.
4The directive is issued to the Secretary of Labor, influencing how the AEWR is implemented and calculated during the stated period.
5The bill is introduced in the 119th Congress and currently statused as Introduced; sponsor information is listed, but not a finalized law.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: H-2A program employers (farm operators) and H-2A workers in agricultural operations.Secondary group/area affected: State labor departments and the enforcement of wage determinations under 20 CFR 655.1308.Additional impacts: Potential effects on labor costs and workforce planning for compliant farms, possible implications for wage competition with domestic workers, and clarifications on wage calculation methodology for multi-task job duties.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 1, 2025