Bill · S. 1617· Senate(119-S-1617)
LAST ACRE Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 5/6/2025
- Last activity
- 5/6/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Deb Fischer
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The LAST ACRE Act of 2025 creates a program to provide grants and loans to broadband providers to bring high-speed internet to unserved and underserved agricultural land. It aims to support precision agriculture and expand internet access to farm structures and devices. The program uses a competitive bidding process to select providers based on cost and capability. Priority is given to remote areas. Additionally, the bill requires the National Agricultural Statistics Service to collect more detailed data on broadband usage in agriculture.
Yes· 3 of 18
Would farmers be better off under this?+10
Directly aims to provide connectivity to agricultural land and support precision farming.
Does this get reliable internet to more people?+10
Directly creates a program to provide high-speed internet to unserved agricultural land.
Does this invest in rural communities?+9
Specifically targets broadband expansion in underserved agricultural and remote rural areas.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-2
The bill authorizes new federal spending for grants and loans.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
It creates a new funding program for broadband infrastructure.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Expanded Internet Access: The program provides qualifying connectivity to unserved and underserved eligible land, including tractors, irrigation systems, drones, and farm offices (Section 2(b)(11)(B)).
- Support for Precision Agriculture: By advancing connectivity, the bill helps farmers manage and reduce production inputs like seed, fertilizer, and water to improve efficiency and environmental quality (Section 2(b)(10)).
- Increased Funding for Small Farmers: The Federal share of project costs can be increased to 90 percent if the producer is a limited resource farmer or rancher (Section 2(d)(3)(B)).
- Improved Network Security: Providers must use a layered defense strategy for security architecture and maintain an updated configuration management plan (Section 2(g)).
- Better Data Collection: The Secretary of Agriculture will collect more comprehensive data on broadband speeds and usage to better understand agricultural needs (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited Funding for Research: No more than 10 percent of the available funds for a fiscal year can be awarded to agricultural research centers (Section 2(c)(2)).
- Strict Time Limits: Providers must meet buildout milestones within a maximum timeframe of 4 years, or face standardized penalties, fines, and sanctions (Section 2(e)(4)(B) and (C)).
- Service Restrictions: Federal assistance cannot be used for internet service to residences already identified as serviceable on broadband maps, nor can it be used for commercial service to areas outside the eligible agricultural land (Section 2(d)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Farmers+10Good For Rural Residents+8Good For Business Owners+6Good For Low Income Households+5Good For High Income Households+3Good For Middle Class Households+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+9Improves Environmental Protections+2Reduces Carbon Emissions+2
- Education And Technology
- Improves Internet Access+10Increases Scientific Research Funding+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+6Improves Economic Growth+5Increases Job Creation+3Reduces Government Spending-2Reduces National Debt-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Increases Federal Power+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- 5/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico