The "Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act" aims to boost market access for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through a new competitive grant program. This program supports the establishment or expansion of food hubs, which are businesses that aggregate, distribute, and market agricultural food products from producers. Eligible entities, including groups of farmers (at least half socially disadvantaged) or non-profit organizations, can use grant funds for infrastructure, equipment, operating expenses, and marketing services. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to appropriate $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 for these grants, which do not require matching funds and can last up to five years.

To further support these initiatives, the bill introduces an Agriculture Hub Credit, a new 25% tax credit for qualified expenses incurred when purchasing agricultural food products from food hubs developed or expanded under the grant program. The Secretary of Agriculture will establish a certification process for contracts to ensure fair transactions for this credit. Additionally, the Secretary must create a process to prioritize the purchase of agricultural food products from socially disadvantaged farmers and these food hubs for use in USDA domestic food assistance programs. This process can waive full and open competition procedures if they present barriers to market entry, with congressional notification.

A significant component of the bill focuses on enhancing civil rights accountability within the Department of Agriculture. It mandates that USDA officials and employees be held accountable for discriminatory actions, retaliation, harassment, or civil rights violations, including failures to provide service receipts or timely process applications. Corrective actions, which can range from policy changes to disciplinary measures such as removal or suspension, must be taken based on administrative findings or investigations. The bill also expands equitable relief provisions, allowing the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights to grant relief to participants filing civil rights complaints without requiring prior approval from other USDA officials.

To further support producers, the bill establishes an independent Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson within the USDA. This Ombudsperson will assist producers in navigating the civil rights review process, raise awareness of appeals, and make recommendations to the Secretary regarding equitable program access and implementation. The Office will have timely access to departmental records and report annually to Congress. Finally, the bill amends the burden of proof for National Appeals Division hearings, requiring the USDA agency to demonstrate by substantial evidence that its adverse decision was valid.