Sponsors (6)
The bill prioritizes protecting productive farmland, local control, and soil health but does so by restricting federal support for utility‑scale solar, which raises costs and financial risk for developers and can unevenly shift investment across counties.
Farmers and rural communities keep covered farmland available for agricultural production because federal support is restricted for converting certain prime/important farmland to utility-scale solar.
Farmers and nearby communities have soil‑protection and remediation plans funded and enforced for solar projects that rely on local approval, protecting soil health during and after operations.
Local counties and municipalities retain decision authority over siting through a resolution exception, increasing local control over land‑use decisions.
Utilities, developers, and broader efforts to expand clean power face slowed deployment and potentially higher costs because federal support for utility‑scale solar on protected farmland is limited.
Developers, landowners, and applicants face added compliance costs, approval delays, and significant financial risk (including possible full repayment of USDA assistance) from required funded conservation plans and Secretary approval conditions.
Rural communities and potential investors may see uneven access to projects and investment because relying on local resolutions can produce patchy approval outcomes across counties.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bars USDA financial assistance for projects that would convert covered farmland out of agricultural production, with three narrow exceptions and required conservation plans for locally approved projects.
Official title: To limit USDA funding for ground-mounted solar energy systems, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 26, 2025 by Mike Bost · Last progress February 26, 2025
Prohibits the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from providing financial assistance to projects that convert covered farmland so it no longer meets the State agricultural-production requirements, with three narrow exceptions (very small conversions, larger conversions that mainly power on‑farm uses, and projects approved by county/municipal resolution). For projects approved by local resolution, requires the applicant to create, fund, and follow a farmland conservation plan that protects soil during operation and restores soil to pre‑project condition when the project ends; USDA may obligate but not disburse funds until the Secretary confirms plan compliance, and failure to follow the plan triggers full repayment of assistance.