HB3470, the AGRITOURISM Act, would create a new Office of Agritourism within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The bill defines agritourism broadly to include educational farm visits, outdoor recreation, entertainment and special events, direct sales, lodging, and dining on farms, and it states congressional findings that these activities provide educational, financial, social, and economic benefits, especially for rural communities and family-owned agricultural businesses.
The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to appoint a senior official to lead the office and to promote agritourism activities in every state. The office would coordinate across USDA agencies, advise the Secretary, update USDA programs to reflect best practices, conduct outreach, provide technical assistance and mentorship, facilitate interagency coordination, review farm enterprise development programs, and help build networks of agritourism businesses. It also makes technical and conforming amendments to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to authorize the new office and related functions.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 by adding a new statutory section establishing an Office of Agritourism and by updating USDA’s organizational authority to support that office. The practical effect would be to formalize federal attention to agritourism within USDA, potentially affecting farmers, ranchers, rural tourism operators, and related small businesses by increasing access to outreach, coordination, technical assistance, and program support.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally positive sentiment toward the bill. It was introduced with bipartisan cosponsors, and the findings and structure of the bill frame agritourism as a rural economic development and farm-diversification tool. No committee debate or recorded votes are available in the provided materials, so there is no evidence of organized opposition in the record supplied.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcript or vote history. Based on the bill text, any concerns would likely center on whether USDA should create a new office for agritourism, whether the federal government should play a larger role in promoting tourism-related farm activities, and whether the bill’s broad definition of agritourism could extend to a wide range of businesses and activities. However, no opposing arguments are recorded in the materials provided.
Senate Substitute for HB 2111 by Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources - Exempting certain registered agritourism operations from local code and regulation enforcement.