USDA Express Loan Act of 2026

The USDA Express Loan Act would expand the USDA's EZGuarantee Loan Program to speed up approval times for farm and ranch loans. If enacted, the bill would require the USDA to provide lenders with simplified application forms for real estate and operating guaranteed loans of $1 million or less, and mandate that the USDA notify lenders within 5 business days whether an application is approved or disapproved. This would eliminate lengthy processing delays that farmers and ranchers currently experience when seeking credit.

In exchange for the expedited approval process, lenders would receive a reduced government guarantee on these loans, ranging from 50 to 90 percent. The bill is currently under consideration by the House Committee on Agriculture and has not yet been voted on by the full chamber.