SCALE Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4851
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-22: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-02T20:48:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4851: Supporting Conservation through Advancing Local Efforts Act of 2026 (SCALE Act of 2026)
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to create a new federal grant program. It aims to support states and Indian Tribes in improving soil health and wildlife habitat on agricultural lands through their own programs.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Definitions: Establishes terms for "agricultural land" (including cropland, grassland, rangeland, pasture, forest land, and wetlands), "eligible State," "eligible Indian Tribe," and "soil health and wildlife habitat program" (which must align with Natural Resources Conservation Service principles and may include technical assistance, financial aid, research, education, and monitoring).
- Grant Availability: Provides grants for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to eligible states and tribes implementing qualifying programs.
- Application Requirements: States and tribes must submit plans with performance measures and confirm that federal funds will add to, rather than replace, their own spending.
- Grant Details: Maximum $10 million per grant for a 5-year term (renewable); requires matching funds from states (or proportional federal funding if matching is partial); tribes may opt into state applications.
- Oversight: Requires annual audits of grant spending; allows the Secretary to disqualify noncompliant recipients for future grants.
- Funding and Limits: Allocates $50 million annually from the Commodity Credit Corporation; caps federal administrative costs at 3% and state/tribal costs at 7%.
- Restrictions: Grants cannot impose USDA requirements or force changes to existing state or local programs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
- Adds a new section (1240L-2) to Subchapter B of Chapter 4 of Subtitle D of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, establishing the first dedicated federal grant mechanism for state- and tribe-led soil health and wildlife habitat initiatives.
- Shifts emphasis toward supplemental funding for local programs rather than direct federal mandates.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (via the Secretary) will administer grants and reviews, with limited administrative overhead; states and tribes gain new funding streams but must handle audits and compliance.
- Citizens: Landowners and operators on agricultural lands may access enhanced local support for conservation practices.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Eligible states and Indian Tribes implementing soil health programs.
- The Secretary of Agriculture and USDA agencies.
- Agricultural landowners, farmers, and ranchers on covered lands.
- The Commodity Credit Corporation as the funding source.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Reinforces federalism by prohibiting conditions that tie grants to federal guidelines or require alterations to state programs.
- Uses standard grant mechanisms with matching requirements, consistent with existing federal-state funding arrangements under the Food Security Act.
- Focuses resources on performance-based, locally directed conservation without altering broader constitutional authorities for agriculture or environmental policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-22: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2026-06-22: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Supporting Conservation through Advancing Local Efforts Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-22 — PDF (7 pages)