H.R. 1592 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Agriculture, Feb 26, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryProtects farmland from solar energy conversion
The bill stops the Department of Agriculture from funding projects that would turn high-quality farmland into solar energy sites. However, smaller projects can still get funding, and larger projects can too if the local county and city approve them and the developer commits to protecting soil health and restoring the land after the solar panels are removed.
How it affects you
If you own or manage valuable farmland, this bill limits when you can convert it to solar production with federal agriculture money, unless your project is small or has local government backing. Solar developers and landowners seeking federal support for larger solar projects on prime farmland will need local approval and a plan to restore the land afterward.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Feb 26, 2025)
Securing Our Lands and Resources Act or the SOLAR Act
This bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture from providing financial assistance for certain projects that would result in the conversion of covered farmland for solar energy production.
Under the bill, covered farmland generally refers to prime farmland, unique farmland, and farmland that is of statewide or local importance. Conversion means any activity that results in the covered farmland no longer meeting certain requirements for agricultural production, activity, or use.
The bill includes an exception for certain smaller projects that result in the conversion of (1) less than 5 acres of covered farmland, or (2) less than 50 acres of covered farmland if the majority of the energy produced by the project is for on-farm use.
The bill also includes an exception for projects that have the approval or support from the local county and municipality. For these projects, the applicant must (1) develop a farmland conservation plan for the project (e.g., implementing best practices to protect future soil health and productivity), and (2) ensure that sufficient funds are provided for the decommissioning of the solar energy production system and the remediation and restoration of the farmland.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1592
A BILL
SOLAR Act
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL-12) · Introduced Feb 26, 2025 · Government Operations and Politics · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 28, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.”