Agricultural Cooperative Energy Savings Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6093
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-04T08:07:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Agricultural Cooperative Energy Savings Act of 2025 aims to broaden access to specific United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs by including smaller agricultural cooperatives. These programs likely focus on energy efficiency or savings initiatives in farming and rural areas, helping participants reduce energy costs and promote sustainable practices.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Expansion: Amends existing law to explicitly include agricultural cooperatives (farmer-owned businesses that provide services like supplies or marketing) with fewer than 2,500 employees as eligible participants.
- Short Title: The bill is officially named the "Agricultural Cooperative Energy Savings Act of 2025."
- Scope: The change applies to programs under Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, which supports energy-related improvements in agriculture.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, eligibility under Section 9007(c)(1)(A)(i) of the 2002 Act covered small businesses and rural entities but did not explicitly mention agricultural cooperatives.
- The amendment inserts new language: ", agricultural cooperatives with less than 2,500 employees," into the eligibility criteria, making these cooperatives directly qualify without needing to fit under broader categories.
- This is a targeted tweak to one subsection, rather than a full overhaul of the program.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The USDA may see an increase in applications and program participation from cooperatives, potentially requiring minor administrative adjustments to process more entities but expanding the reach of energy-saving initiatives without significant new funding.
- On Citizens: Farmers and rural residents who are members of qualifying cooperatives could gain easier access to USDA support for energy-efficient equipment or projects, leading to cost savings and environmental benefits in agricultural operations.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. agriculture programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Agricultural Cooperatives: Especially smaller ones (under 2,500 employees), which now have clearer eligibility for USDA energy programs, potentially improving their financial and operational efficiency.
- Farmers and Rural Communities: As primary users of cooperatives, they benefit indirectly through enhanced services and energy cost reductions.
- USDA and Congress: The agency administers the programs, while bipartisan sponsors (from both parties, representing agricultural states) indicate support for rural economic development.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The change is straightforward and builds on existing USDA authority under the 2002 Act, with no apparent conflicts or new regulatory burdens; it promotes equity in program access without altering funding mechanisms.
- Constitutional: No significant issues, as it involves federal spending on agriculture, a long-standing congressional power under the Commerce Clause.
- Political: Reflects bipartisan effort to support rural economies, potentially appealing to agricultural districts; the employee threshold (2,500) aligns with small business definitions, avoiding favoritism toward very large entities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
- 2025-11-18: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-11-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Agricultural Cooperative Energy Savings Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-18 — PDF (2 pages)