Bill · H.R. 4636· House(119-HR-4636)
SOIL Act
- Introduced
- 7/23/2025
- Last activity
- 7/23/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Sponsored by
- Julia Brownley
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The SOIL Act aims to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to encourage agricultural practices that benefit both soil and wildlife habitat. It proposes increasing payments to producers through the environmental quality incentives program and the conservation stewardship program. The bill specifically targets projects that address both soil and wildlife habitat resource concerns simultaneously. Under the environmental quality incentives program, producers would receive payments at 90 percent of costs for specific practices. The bill also updates the criteria for evaluating and ranking applications and contract offers to prioritize these dual-purpose projects.
Yes· 3 of 7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+7
The bill incentivizes practices that simultaneously improve soil health and wildlife habitat through increased federal payments.
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?+5
The bill specifically defines and funds co-benefit activities that increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Would farmers be better off under this?+5
The bill increases payments to producers for specific practices like cover crops, windbreaks, and crop rotation.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased payments for producers: Producers can receive payments at 90 percent of the cost for planning, design, materials, equipment, installation, labor, management, maintenance, or training for specific practices that benefit both soil and wildlife habitat. (Section 2(a))
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Encouragement of specific land management practices: The bill identifies various beneficial practices such as alley cropping, establishing windbreaks, planting cover crops, and rotating crops to address soil and wildlife concerns. (Section 2(a))
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Priority for dual-purpose conservation: The bill adjusts the evaluation and ranking process for both the environmental quality incentives program and the conservation stewardship program to prioritize projects addressing both soil and wildlife habitat resource concerns. (Section 2(c) and Section 3(a))
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Support for co-benefit activities: The bill introduces "co-benefit activities" which are conservation activities that improve wildlife habitat while also increasing carbon sequestration in the soil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (Section 3(b))
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+7Reduces Carbon Emissions+5Improves Rural Development+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Farmers+5Good For Business Owners+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+3Improves Economic Growth+2
- 7/23/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Introduced in House