This plan aims to make it easier for small and very small meat and poultry processors to operate safely, expand, and sell more broadly. It tells USDA to build a free online library of trusted food safety studies and simple, scale-appropriate model plans, plus clear guidance for getting plans approved, so smaller plants don’t have to start from scratch. It protects confidential business info while doing this . It also raises the federal share of state inspection program costs from 50% to 65%, easing pressure on states and local plants that rely on those programs . For the program that lets certain state-inspected plants ship across state lines, it updates size limits so more plants can qualify, boosts the federal share of costs to 80%, and requires the USDA to reach out to at least a quarter of eligible states each year from 2025–2030 and report back on progress .

The bill creates two grant programs. One funds upgrades that make small processors safer and more resilient—think cold storage, equipment, humane handling areas, safety supplies, software, training, and help writing food safety plans. Grants can be up to $500,000 for up to three years, with a simple application for requests of $100,000 or less. The USDA must open applications quickly (within 60 days), give priority to projects that add slaughter options within 200 miles for farmers, cover up to 90% of small grants (75% for larger), and waive matching funds in 2025–2026. Congress authorizes $20 million per year for 2025–2030 and allows faster rollout by skipping some red tape . The other grant program supports job training and apprenticeships for meat and poultry processing at community colleges, trade schools, nonprofits, and land‑grant universities, with a simplified process for small grants and $10 million per year authorized for 2025–2030 .