Congress orders new frost insurance research for vulnerable crops
H.R. 7464 — TEMP Act · Filed by C. Franklin (R-FL) · 20 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 10, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research and develop a new frost or cold weather insurance product for crops like tomatoes, peppers, citrus, and berries. The Corporation can either conduct the research itself or contract with private firms to do it. Within one year, it must report findings to Congress on whether an index-based insurance policy can protect farmers against frost and cold-weather losses.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a research-and-development mandate for a new crop insurance product. It does not appropriate funds, does not create a new program, and does not directly subsidize any party—it directs the existing Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to study and develop a frost/cold weather insurance option.
What the text implies
- If the research succeeds and a frost/cold weather insurance product is developed, the Corporation may eventually offer it as a new insurance line, potentially increasing the Corporation's operational scope and budget needs in future years.
- The bill names specific crops (tomatoes, peppers, sugarcane, strawberries, melons, citrus, peaches, blueberries) but also includes 'any other crop,' leaving the scope of the final product open-ended.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Agricultural producers and farmers (expanded insurance options); Private research contractors (if Corporation elects to contract out R&D); Crop insurance companies (if a new product line increases market demand)