[119th Congress Public Law 102]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 140 STAT. 985]]
Public Law 119-102
119th Congress
An Act
To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to remove barriers to
agricultural producers in accessing funds to carry out emergency
measures under the emergency conservation program, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: July 12, 2026 - [S. 629]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Emergency
Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025. Determinations. 16 USC
2201 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Conservation Program
Improvement Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVING THE EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and
Other Emergency Conservation Measures'' after
``Fencing'';
(B) <<NOTE: Payments.>> in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``or for other emergency
measures to replace or restore farmland or
conservation structures requiring an immediate
response (as determined by the Secretary),'' after
``replacement of fencing,''; and
(ii) by striking ``option of receiving'' and
all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting the following: ``option of receiving,
before the agricultural producer carries out the
repair, replacement, or restoration--
``(A) with respect to a payment to the agricultural
producer for a replacement, 75 percent of the cost of
the replacement, as determined by the Secretary; and
``(B) with respect to a payment to the agricultural
producer for a repair or restoration, 50 percent of the
cost of the repair or restoration, as determined by the
Secretary.''; and
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``60-day'' and
inserting ``180-day''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Wildfire Determination.--A wildfire that causes damage
eligible for a payment under subsection (a) includes--
``(1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the damage
is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes;
and
``(2) a wildfire that is caused by the Federal
Government.''.
[[Page 140 STAT. 986]]
SEC. 3. IMPROVING THE EMERGENCY FOREST RESTORATION PROGRAM.
Section 407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2206)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``wildfires,'' and
inserting ``wildfires (including a wildfire that is not caused
naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire
due to natural causes, and a wildfire that is caused by the
Federal Government),'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Advance Payments.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall give an owner of
nonindustrial private forest land the option of receiving,
before the owner carries out emergency measures under this
section, not more than 75 percent of the cost of the emergency
measures, as determined by the Secretary.
``(2) <<NOTE: Time period.>> Return of funds.--If the funds
provided under paragraph (1) are not expended by the end of the
180-day period beginning on the date on which the owner of
nonindustrial private forest land receives those funds, the
funds shall be returned within a reasonable timeframe, as
determined by the Secretary.''.
[Note by the Office of the Federal Register: The foregoing Act, having
been presented to the President of the United States on Tuesday, June
30, 2026, and not having been returned by him to the House of Congress
in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution of
the United States, has become law without his signature on July 12,
2026.]
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 629:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 172 (2026):
Mar. 24, considered and passed Senate.
June 23, considered and passed House.
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