[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8277 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8277

   To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the 
effects of solar panel installations on covered farmland, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 7, 2024

   Mrs. Miller of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was 
                referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the 
effects of solar panel installations on covered farmland, 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 ``Preserving America's Farmland Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY ON EFFECTS OF SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATIONS ON COVERED 
              FARMLAND.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Energy, shall conduct a study on the effects of solar panel 
installations on the conversion of covered farmland out of agricultural 
production.
    (b) Elements.--The study required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) An analysis of the economic effects of solar panel 
        installations on--
                    (A) converted and adjacent covered farmland, 
                including on--
                            (i) crop yields;
                            (ii) land values, including adjacent 
                        properties; and
                            (iii) land access and tenure;
                    (B) local economies; and
                    (C) food security.
            (2) The impacts of solar panel installation, operation, and 
        decommissioning on--
                    (A) covered farmland;
                    (B) soil health;
                    (C) water resources;
                    (D) wildlife;
                    (E) water drainage; and
                    (F) vegetation.
            (3) An evaluation of existing Federal, State, or local tax 
        incentives that encourage solar panel installations on covered 
        farmland.
            (4) An evaluation of existing Federal, State, or local 
        incentives to install solar panel installations on previously 
        disturbed non-agricultural lands, such as the built 
        environment, contaminated land, or landfills.
            (5) An evaluation of the effectiveness of programs 
        administered by the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy 
        that--
                    (A) incentivize the use of solar energy to shift 
                development towards the non-agricultural lands 
                described in paragraph (4); and
                    (B) discourage solar panel installations that would 
                transition covered farmland out of agricultural 
                production.
            (6) An estimate of the loss of agricultural production on 
        covered farmland due to solar panel installations.
    (c) Consultation With Relevant Stakeholders.--In carrying out the 
study required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with 
relevant farmers, ranchers, landowners, agricultural organizations, 
State departments of agriculture, conservation organizations, and land-
grant colleges and universities.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
        and Forestry of the Senate a written report on the findings of 
        the study; and
            (2) make such report publicly available.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered farmland.--The term ``covered farmland'' has 
        the meaning given the term ``farmland'' in section 1540(c)(1) 
        of the Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. 4201(c)(1)).
            (2) Land grant colleges and universities.--The term ``land 
        grand colleges and universities'' has the meaning give the term 
        in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
        Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
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