NSF Plant Biology Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7949
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-16: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-10T08:06:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 to create a dedicated grant program for fundamental plant and microbial biology research that could support agriculture, food production, or biotechnology.
Key provisions
- The National Science Foundation Director may award competitive, merit-reviewed grants to support research on plant biology fundamentals and tools, resources, or technology that advance such research.
- Eligible recipients include colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, private companies, and federal, state, local, or Tribal governments, as well as groups of these entities.
- The bill authorizes $150,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
- It adds a definition of “nonprofit organization” to the underlying 2002 Act, referencing organizations exempt from federal income tax under specific Internal Revenue Code provisions.
Significant changes to existing law
- Adds a new Section 27 to the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 establishing the grant program.
- Updates the definitions section of the 2002 Act by inserting a definition for nonprofit organizations and renumbering subsequent paragraphs.
Potential impacts
- Increases federal funding available through the National Science Foundation for plant biology research.
- May support research institutions, government agencies, and private entities working in agriculture and biotechnology.
- No direct effects on citizens or international relations are specified in the bill.
Main stakeholders affected
- The National Science Foundation.
- Institutions of higher education and research organizations.
- Nonprofit organizations and private sector companies in agriculture and biotechnology.
- Federal, state, local, and Tribal government entities.
Notable legal, constitutional, or political implications
- The bill follows standard procedures for authorizing appropriations and grant programs with no apparent constitutional issues.
- It represents an expansion of federal support for targeted scientific research without altering existing regulatory frameworks.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-16: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2026-03-16: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-16: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Plant Biological Research at the National Science Foundation Act — issued 2026-03-16 — PDF (3 pages)