May 13, 2025
Ms. Ernst (for herself, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Marshall, and Mr. Durbin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to streamline conservation practice standards, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Conservation innovation grants and payments
Section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3939aa–8) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)(1)—
(A)
by striking pay the cost of
and inserting award
;
(B)
by inserting the development and evaluation of new and
before innovative approaches
; and
(C)
by inserting , including for the purpose of incorporating innovation and new technologies into existing conservation practice standards or establishing new conservation practice standards
before the period at the end; and
(2)
in subsection (d)(2)(A)—
(A)
in clause (i)—
(i)
by striking practices
and inserting practices, including both management and structural practices,
; and
(ii)
by striking and
at the end;
(B)
by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii);
(C)
by inserting after clause (i) the following:
(ii)
evaluation data for new and emerging technology and recommendations for State and regional applications; and; and
(D)
in clause (iii) (as so redesignated), by striking practices.
and inserting practices for consideration through the process established under section 1242(h)(3).
.
Sec. 3. Conservation standards and requirements
Section 1241(j)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(j)(1)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (B), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(D)
a schedule for the revision of existing, and establishment of new, conservation practice standards under section 1242(h).
Sec. 4. Establishment and review of conservation practice standards
Section 1242(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(h)) is amended—
(1)
in the subsection heading, by inserting Establishment and
before Review
;
(2)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
by striking not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
and inserting not less frequently than once every 5 years
;
(ii)
by inserting on a rolling basis,
after standard,
; and
(iii)
by striking that Act
and inserting the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act of 2025
;
(B)
in subparagraph (C), by striking and
at the end;
(C)
in subparagraph (D), by striking ensures equivalent natural resource benefits.
and inserting integrates new and innovative technologies providing equivalent or improved natural resources benefits compared to the current conservation practice standard;
; and
(D)
by adding at the end the following:
(E)
provide an opportunity for public input on each conservation practice standard under review;
(F)
publicly post a summary of comments received under subparagraph (E) and decisions made or not made due to those comments; and
(G)
publish each revised conservation practice standard.;
(3)
by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
(3) Establishment of conservation practice standards
(A) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act of 2025, the Secretary shall—
(i)
develop, for the programs under this title, a streamlined, publicly accessible, administrative process for establishing, including proposing, reviewing, and adopting, interim conservation practice standards and conservation practice standards; and
(ii)
publish a detailed description of the process developed under clause (i), including—
(I)
specific thresholds appropriate for expedited review; and
(II)
an associated timeline for the implementation of the review.
(B) Requirements
Under the process established under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—
(i)
consider conservation innovations and scientific and technological advancements, including from projects developed under section 1240H;
(ii)
allow State and local flexibility in the creation of—
(I)
interim conservation practice standards and supplements to existing conservation practice standards to address the considerations described in clause (i); and
(II)
partnership-led proposals for new and innovative techniques to facilitate implementing agreements and grants under this title;
(iii)
solicit regular input from State technical committees established under section 1261(a) for recommendations that identify innovations or advancements described in clause (i); and
(iv)
allow for public submission of conservation practices for consideration as interim conservation practice standards.
(C) Innovative technology priority
The Secretary shall prioritize the review of interim conservation practice standards and new conservation practice standards under the process established under subparagraph (A) for the purpose of integrating innovative technologies, including—
(i)
precision agriculture technologies;
(ii)
biological sources of fertilizer, nutrient use efficiency technologies, and other tools, as determined by the Secretary, that reduce nutrient loss;
(iii)
animal feed additives;
(iv)
perennial production systems, including agroforestry and perennial forages and grain crops; and
(v)
any other innovative technology, as determined by the Secretary.
(D) Public information
Under the process established under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make publicly available information describing—
(i)
what constitutes—
(I)
a conservation practice standard; and
(II)
an interim conservation practice standard;
(ii)
the process by which the public can submit to the Secretary conservation practices for consideration as interim conservation practice standards, including a template and written instructions for how to submit a conservation practice for consideration;
(iii)
the data, metrics, third-party or scientific information, and other relevant information that the Secretary needs to consider in the establishment of interim conservation practice standards;
(iv)
the process by which an interim conservation practice standard becomes a conservation practice standard;
(v)
the means by which the public can engage State technical committees established under section 1261(a) to consider interim conservation practice standards already in effect in other States; and
(vi)
such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.; and
(4)
in paragraph (4)—
(A)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—
(i)
by striking Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
and inserting Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act of 2025
; and
(ii)
by striking Congress a report on—
and inserting Congress and make publicly available on a website of the Department of Agriculture a report describing—
;
(B)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting a detailed description of
before the administrative
;
(C)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
by striking or revised
; and
(ii)
by striking and
at the end;
(D)
in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(E)
by adding at the end the following:
(D)
such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate with respect to improving the process for reviewing and establishing conservation practice standards.