Checkoff Transparency Act

Summary

Requires the USDA to publish specific oversight documents for each commodity promotion (checkoff) order on its website, including annual audit reports, each board’s approved activities and budgets, and results of independent evaluations. The USDA must post the prior five full fiscal years of these documents within 180 days of enactment and then update annually no later than 365 days after each fiscal year ends. Also updates statutory cross-references to reflect the new subsection placement; otherwise the bill does not change reporting content or board obligations already in law.

• USDA must post, for each commodity promotion order, audit reports, approved activities and budgets, and evaluation results on its website.
• The Secretary must publish the prior five full fiscal years of information within 180 days of enactment.
• Subsequent fiscal-year information must be posted annually no later than 365 days after the fiscal year ends.
• The bill adds a new transparency subsection and renumbers existing subsections and a cross-reference.
• The change makes existing submissions publicly accessible but does not create new audit or evaluation requirements beyond current law.
• Primary obligations for boards (produce audits/evaluations) remain unchanged; USDA gains a publication duty.
• No new spending or program authorizations are included in the bill text.
• Applies to all commodity promotion (checkoff) orders covered by the underlying statute.