S. 4249 — FARM Stability Act

This section requires the Secretary of Labor, if determining that an H-2A minimum wage (i.e., for temporary nonimmigrant agricultural workers) above the applicable federal or state minimum wage for agricultural employment is required, to (1) annually establish a two-tiered wage scale by skill level—Skill Level I for entry-level positions and Skill Level II for experienced workers with formal education, training certificates, or significant agricultural experience, with Skill Level II wages higher than Skill Level I; and (2) adjust those state-specific wages by a compensation factor for employer-provided housing, computed as an equivalent hourly rate from weighted statewide average HUD fair market rents for a 4-bedroom unit and capped at 30% of the relevant wage rate. (Thus, these requirements apply only when the Secretary sets wages above federal or state minima to prevent adverse effects on U.S. workers' wages and conditions.)