Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Bills & Legislation

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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB197

Introduced
1/3/25  
Refer
1/3/25  
Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025This bill directs the Forest Service to exchange specified land along the shoreline of Lake Winnibigoshish (commonly known as Lake Winnie) in the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota for specified land owned by Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC (BWLT), if BWLT offers to make the exchange. The land acquired by the Forest Service must be added to and managed as part of Chippewa National Forest. The bill outlines requirements and conditions for the exchange. For example, the Forest Service must reserve an easement for road access to certain land in the forest. The bill also conditions the exchange on the satisfactory completion of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment by BWLT before the nonfederal land is accepted in the exchange.In addition, the exchange must be for equal value or the values must be equalized by a cash payment, subject to an exception.Finally, the bill directs BWLT to pay all closing costs associated with the exchange.
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB302

Introduced
1/29/25  
Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments ActThis bill requires states to recoup any overpayments of benefits made to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients and adjusts the formula for determining a state's liability rate for overpayments.As background, the SNAP quality control system measures how accurately SNAP state agencies determine a household’s eligibility and benefit amount and determines overpayments of benefits and underpayments. States that have comparatively high payment error rates for two consecutive years are assessed a penalty (i.e., liability amount). The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) must use a statutory formula to determine the liability amount.Under current law, FNS must set a tolerance level for excluding small payment errors in the calculation of payment error rates (e.g., $56 or less in FY2024). This bill reduces the tolerance level for excluding small errors to $0 for FY2025 and each succeeding fiscal year.The bill also requires state agencies to recoup any overpayments of benefits made to SNAP beneficiaries.The bill adjusts the liability rate formula to reduce the state payment error rate based on the percentage of overpayments recouped by the state. Further, the bill increases the multiplier used in the liability rate formula to 25% (from 10%).
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB319

Introduced
1/29/25  
Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into a contract to evaluate the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program.Under the program, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service works in coordination with the Texas Animal Health Commission to combat the spread of cattle fever ticks, which can spread a serious cattle disease called bovine babesiosis or cattle fever.Specifically, USDA must enter into a contract to review and report on the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program with a (1) land-grant college or university, or (2) non-land-grant college of agriculture.The review must include an evaluation of the program's (1) effectiveness with respect to preventing and reducing the spread of cattle fever ticks; and (2) benefits, and the burdens of compliance, to cattle producers.The review must also evaluate the treatment protocols developed and implemented under the program.Further, the review must evaluate the federal and state funds allocated to support the program for the most recent fiscal year. 
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB349

Introduced
1/30/25  
Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB836

Introduced
1/31/25  
Refer
1/31/25  
Engrossed
2/6/25  
Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act of 2025This bill requires the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to (1) jointly evaluate the container aerial firefighting system to assess its use to mitigate and suppress wildfires, and (2) report on the results of the evaluation to Congress.The system allows for the use of airdrop-capable disposable containers of water or fire retardant in order to increase the number of airlift assets available for wildfire emergencies.
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB228

Introduced
1/23/25  
Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB231

Introduced
1/23/25  
WEATHER Act of 2025 Withstanding Extreme Agricultural Threats by Harvesting Economic Resilience Act of 2025
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB56

Introduced
1/9/25  
Supporting All Producers Act or the SAP Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to solicit input from maple industry stakeholders with respect to the research and education priorities of the maple industry for the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer). Specifically, the bill amends Acer to require USDA to consider the information provided through consultation with the maple industry when making program grants.The bill also extends the program's authorization through FY2030.As background, Acer provides competitive grants to states, tribal governments, and research institutions to support their efforts to promote the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with, among other things, the promotion of (1) research and education related to maple syrup production, and (2) natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry.
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB85

Introduced
1/14/25  
Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025This bill establishes requirements to research and control the fungus Ceratocystis, known as Rapid Ohia Death, which has killed more than a million native trees in Hawaii.Specifically, the Department of the Interior must partner with the Department of Agriculture and Hawaii to control and address the fungus.In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey must continue to research Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must continue to partner with Hawaii and local stakeholders to manage ungulates (e.g., certain mammals such as deer) in Rapid Ohia Death control areas on federal, state, and private land.Finally, the Forest Service must continue to provide (1) financial assistance to prevent the spread of the fungus and to restore the native forests of Hawaii, and (2) staff and necessary infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to research the fungus.
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB277

Introduced
1/28/25  
A bill to release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB57

Introduced
1/9/25  
Making Agricultural Products Locally Essential Act or the MAPLE ActThis bill includes maple syrup as one of the eligible foods under the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). As background, the Department of Agriculture's SFMNP provides grants to participating states to provide low-income seniors with coupons/vouchers that may be used at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs to purchase eligible foods (i.e., fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally-grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey).
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB375

Introduced
1/13/25  
Refer
1/13/25  
Engrossed
1/24/25  
Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025This bill establishes requirements to research and control Rapid Ohia Death, which is the disease caused by the fungal pathogen known as Ceratocystis fimbriata that affects the tree of the species Metrosideros polymorpha.Specifically, the Department of the Interior must partner with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Hawaii to control and address Rapid Ohia Death.In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry must continue to research Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must continue to partner with USDA, Hawaii, and local stakeholders to manage ungulates (e.g., certain mammals such as deer) in Rapid Ohia Death control areas on federal, state, and private land, with the consent of private landowners.Finally, the Forest Service must provide (1) financial assistance to prevent the spread of the fungus and to restore the native forests of Hawaii, and (2) staff and necessary infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to research the fungus.
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB471

Introduced
1/16/25  
Refer
1/16/25  
Fix Our Forests Act
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB144

Introduced
1/16/25  
Farm to Fly Act of 2025This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to integrate the advancement of sustainable aviation fuels into its programs.Specifically, this bill includes sustainable aviation fuel as an advanced biofuel for the purposes of several USDA bioenergy programs that primarily provide support and incentives for renewable energy projects.For purposes of these programs, the bill defines sustainable aviation fuel as liquid fuel, the portion of which is not kerosene, which (1) meets specific international standards, (2) is not derived from coprocessing specific materials (e.g., triglycerides) with a non-biomass feedstock, (3) is not derived from palm fatty acid distillates or petroleum, and (4) is certified as having a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage of at least 50% compared with petroleum-based jet fuel (based on specific standards and agreements).In addition, the bill specifically includes fostering and advancing sustainable aviation fuels as part of the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program.Further, USDA must carry out a comprehensive and integrated pursuit of all USDA mission areas for the advancement of sustainable aviation fuels, including throughthe identification of opportunities to maximize the development and commercialization of the fuels,supporting rural economic development through improved sustainability for aviation, andadvancing public-private partnerships.
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Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB156

Introduced
1/21/25  
Increased TSP Access Act of 2025This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to modify the certification process for Technical Service Providers (TSPs) at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) by establishing an approval process for nonfederal certifying entities and a streamlined certification process for TSPs that hold certain specialty certifications.As background, TSPs are third-party service providers, such as private businesses, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations, that work on behalf of customers to offer planning, design, and implementation services that meet NRCS criteria.The bill specifies that USDA must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, third-party providers with expertise in the technical aspects of conservation practice design, implementation, and evaluation are eligible to become approved TSPs.USDA must provide a streamlined certification process for TSPs who hold appropriate specialty certifications (e.g., certified crop advisors).In determining the eligibility of a nonfederal certifying entity, USDA must consider the ability, experience, expertise, and history of the entity. USDA must decide whether to approve an application submitted by a nonfederal certifying entity to certify TSPs within a specified time period.  USDA must also review a TSP's certification by a nonfederal certifying entity within a specified time period. If the certification is satisfactory, USDA must include the TSP on a USDA-maintained registry of certified TSPs.The bill also specifies that TSPs must be paid at rates equivalent to technical assistance provided by USDA.Further, USDA must provide accessible public information on TSPs, including information on funding, certification results, and utilization rates.