Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 629
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- To President
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-30: Presented to President.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:07:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to improve access to funding under the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program. It aims to reduce barriers for agricultural producers and forest landowners seeking assistance for emergency measures following disasters such as wildfires.
Key Provisions
- Emergency Conservation Program (Section 401):
- Expands eligible activities to include replacement or restoration of farmland and conservation structures beyond just fencing.
- Authorizes advance payments before work begins: up to 75% of replacement costs and 50% of repair or restoration costs.
- Extends the timeframe for completing work from 60 days to 180 days.
- Defines eligible wildfires to include those started by the federal government or those that spread due to natural causes even if initially non-natural.
- Emergency Forest Restoration Program (Section 407):
- Aligns wildfire eligibility with the same expanded definition as the conservation program.
- Allows advance payments of up to 75% of emergency measure costs.
- Requires return of unused funds if not spent within 180 days.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces advance payment options that were previously limited or unavailable, shifting from post-completion reimbursement to partial upfront funding.
- Broadens the scope of covered emergency measures and wildfire causes, removing prior restrictions on non-natural or federally caused events.
- Lengthens the compliance period for fund use from 60 to 180 days in the conservation program and adds a similar 180-day return requirement for forest restoration advances.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Increases administrative workload for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in processing advance payments and verifying expenditures, while potentially accelerating response times to disasters.
- On citizens: Provides faster financial relief to agricultural producers and nonindustrial private forest landowners, reducing out-of-pocket costs during emergencies.
- On international relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Agricultural producers eligible for conservation program assistance.
- Owners of nonindustrial private forest land seeking restoration funds.
- The Secretary of Agriculture and USDA agencies responsible for program administration.
- Federal agencies involved in wildfire management or land activities that could trigger eligibility.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill operates within Congress's authority to amend agricultural statutes and allocate program funds. It raises no apparent constitutional issues, as it modifies existing discretionary programs without creating new mandates or rights. Politically, it focuses on streamlining disaster response without altering broader federal-state authorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-30: Presented to President.
- 2026-06-30: Presented to President.
- 2026-06-23: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-06-23: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 368 - 19 (Roll no. 223). (text: CR H4137) (Roll call 223)
- 2026-06-23: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 368 - 19 (Roll no. 223). (text: CR H4137) (Roll call 223)
- 2026-06-23: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4192)
- 2026-06-23: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- 2026-06-23: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 629.
- 2026-06-23: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4137-4138)
- 2026-06-23: Mr. Lucas moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2026-03-24: Held at the desk.
- 2026-03-24: Received in the House.
- 2026-03-24: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2026-03-24: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1565; text: CR S1565)
- 2026-03-24: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Bill Versions
- Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 — issued 2026-06-25 — PDF (2 pages)
- Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 — issued 2026-03-24 — PDF (6 pages)
- Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-19 — PDF (4 pages)