State assistance for soil health and wildlife habitat

Subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–21 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

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State assistance for soil health and wildlife habitat

(a)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Agricultural land

The term agricultural land means—(A)cropland;(B)grassland;(C)rangeland;(D)pasture land;(E)nonindustrial private forest land; and(F)other land in agricultural areas (including wetlands, marshes, and agricultural land used or capable of being used for the production of livestock), as determined by the Secretary.(2)

Eligible Indian Tribe

The term eligible Indian Tribe means an Indian Tribe that is—(A)implementing a soil health and wildlife habitat program for the area over which the Indian Tribe has jurisdiction; and(B)meeting or exceeding performance measures established by the Indian Tribe for the soil health and wildlife habitat program.(3)

Eligible State

The term eligible State means a State that is—(A)implementing a new or existing soil health and wildlife habitat program for the State; and(B)meeting or exceeding performance measures established by the State for the soil health and wildlife habitat program.(4)

Soil health and wildlife habitat program

The term soil health and wildlife habitat program means a program to improve soil health and wildlife habitat on agricultural land that—(A)is broadly consistent with the soil health principles of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, as determined by the Secretary, including the use of perennial grasses; and(B)may include—(i)technical assistance;(ii)financial assistance;(iii)on-farm research and demonstration;(iv)education, outreach, and training;(v)monitoring and evaluation; or(vi)such other components as the Secretary determines appropriate.(b)

Availability and purpose of grants

For fiscal years 2027 through 2031, the Secretary shall make grants to eligible States and eligible Indian Tribes for the purpose of improving soil health and wildlife habitat on agricultural lands through the implementation of State and Tribal soil health and wildlife habitat programs.(c)

Applications

(1)

In general

To receive a grant under this section, an eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe shall submit to the Secretary an application that shall contain—(A)a description of performance measures to be used to evaluate the State or Tribal soil health and wildlife habitat program and the expected results of any activities carried out using grant funds received under this section; and(B)an assurance that grant funds received under this section will supplement the expenditure of State or Tribal funds in support of soil health and wildlife habitat, rather than replace such funds.(2)

Tribal option

An Indian Tribe shall have the option, at the sole discretion of the Indian Tribe, to be incorporated into the application of an eligible State.(d)

Grants

(1)

Amount

The amount of a grant to an eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe under this section for a fiscal year may not exceed $10,000,000.(2)

Term

A grant under this section shall be for 5 years, and may be renewed.(3)

Matching funds

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), to be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall provide matching funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds provided.(B)

Exception

If a State is unable to provide matching funds under subparagraph (A) sufficient to receive the full amount for which the State is otherwise eligible, the Secretary shall provide the State a proportional amount of Federal funds equal to the amount of matching funds the State commits to provide.(e)

Audits and reviews

An eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary, for each year for which the State or Indian Tribe receives such a grant, the results of an audit of the expenditures of the grant funds.(f)

Effect of noncompliance

If the Secretary, after reasonable notice to an eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe receiving a grant under this section, finds that the State or Indian Tribe has failed to comply with the terms of the grant, the Secretary may disqualify, for 1 or more years, the State or Indian Tribe from receipt of future grants under this section.(g)

Funding

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.(h)

Administration

(1)

Department

The Secretary may not use more than 3 percent of the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year for administrative expenses.(2)

States or Indian Tribes

An eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe receiving a grant under this section may not use more than 7 percent of the granted funds for a fiscal year for administrative expenses.(3)

Deadline

The Secretary shall award the grants under this section not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section.(4)

No conditions

A grant awarded under this section shall not—(A)be conditioned on any requirement, guideline, technical standard, or administrative directive of the Department of Agriculture; or(B)direct or require modification of any soil health and wildlife habitat program established, funded, or administered by a State or local government.