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119th Congress
Independent · Nonpartisan · Reader-supported
HOUSEH.R. 9572· 119th Congress

Clarify Land Rules for Farm Conservation Program

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to clarify land eligible for enrollment in the conservation reserve program.

Sponsor
Becca Balint (D-VT)
Introduced
Jul 2, 2026
Last Action
Jul 2, 2026
Passage
12%
Introduced
Jul 2, 2026
2
Committee
3
Floor Vote
4
Both Chambers
5
Enacted
01 — The Text

What.

  • Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to clarify which land qualifies for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
  • The CRP pays farmers to take environmentally sensitive land out of production and plant conservation cover like trees or native grasses.
  • Bill removes ambiguity about land eligibility, though specific changes aren't yet detailed in public documents.
02 — The Stakes

So what?

  • Farmers and landowners gain clarity on whether their acres qualify for CRP payments—affecting access to federal conservation funding.
  • Environmental groups care because CRP protects soil, prevents erosion, and supports wildlife habitat on millions of acres nationally.
  • Tradeoff: clearer rules could expand access for some farmers while potentially restricting it for others, depending on how 'eligible land' gets defined.
03 — The Path

Now what?

  • Bill just introduced and referred to House Agriculture Committee (July 2, 2026)—early stage with no detailed summary yet published.
  • Committee will likely hold hearings and markup before deciding whether to advance it; full text analysis is pending.
  • Track progress at Congress.gov or contact your House representative if this affects your farm or conservation interests.
Legislative History

Actions.

  • Jul 2, 2026Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
  • Jul 2, 2026Introduced in House
  • Jul 2, 2026Introduced in House