Sponsors (3)
Want me to put this bill in plain English?
This is not an official government website.
Copyright © 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Limits grant awards under the program in Section 1419B (7 U.S.C. 3156) to a maximum duration of three years and replaces the prior funding language with specified authorized funding levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2031. The changes apply separately to the program’s two subsections, so each subsection has its own 3-year limit and annual authorization amounts. The amendment sets multi-year authorized funding levels (authorizations, not actual appropriations) and will affect how federal agencies, universities, research organizations, and other grant recipients plan project timelines and budgets because longer projects would need to be broken into shorter phases or rely on renewals or new awards more frequently.
Redesignate paragraph (3) as paragraph (4) in subsection (a) of Section 1419B.
Insert a new paragraph (3) in subsection (a) stating: 'Grant period — A grant made under this subsection shall be for a period of not more than 3 years.'
In paragraph (4) (as redesignated) of subsection (a), strike the prior funding language and insert new funding language reading: 'inserting0,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and inserting5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.'
Redesignate paragraph (3) as paragraph (4) in subsection (b) of Section 1419B.
Insert a new paragraph (3) in subsection (b) stating: 'Grant period — A grant made under this subsection shall be for a period of not more than 3 years.'
Who is affected and how:
Institutions of higher education and research organizations: Most directly affected. These entities commonly apply for and receive grants under the program. The 3-year cap will force many projects to be structured as shorter phases or to rely on follow-on funding for work that previously might have been funded for longer continuous periods. This can increase proposal frequency and administrative work for grants offices.
Scientific research sector: Researchers and research teams in agricultural sciences and extension will need to design studies, experiment timelines, and deliverables to fit a 3-year award cycle or plan for staged funding. Longitudinal or multi-season field studies may be harder to fund in a single award and could face continuity risks between award cycles.
Federal agencies (program administrators): Agencies administering the grants (e.g., USDA/NIFA) must update solicitations, award terms, and budget planning to reflect the 3-year limit and incorporate the new FY2026–2031 authorized funding levels into program planning. Agencies will also need to communicate the distinction between authorization and actual appropriations.
Farmers, extension users, and rural communities: Indirectly affected. These stakeholders benefit from the outputs of research and extension funded by the program. If projects are shortened or segmented, delivery of applied research results or extension services could be paced differently, potentially slowing some longer-term initiatives.
Budget and program planning: The specified FY2026–2031 authorization amounts increase transparency about intended funding levels for those years, which helps planning. However, because authorizations do not guarantee appropriations, program activities still depend on future appropriation decisions. The administrative load may rise due to more frequent competition cycles or award renewals.
Overall, the change is procedural and programmatic rather than creating new programs or regulatory duties. Its main practical effects are on award length, project design, administrative cadence, and the predictability of authorized funding levels over the 2026–2031 period.
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced December 1, 2025 by Jill Tokuda · Last progress December 1, 2025
Expand sections to see detailed analysis
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House