State assistance for soil health

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: 1240L–2. State assistance for soil health (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible Indian Tribe The term eligible Indian Tribe means an Indian Tribe that is— (A) implementing a soil health 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 program. (2) Eligible State The term eligible State means a State that is— (A) implementing a soil health program for the State; and (B) meeting or exceeding performance measures established by the State for the soil health program. (3) Soil health program The term soil health program means a program to improve soil health on agricultural land that— (A) is broadly consistent with the soil health principles of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, as determined by the Secretary; 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 on agricultural lands through the implementation of State and Tribal soil health 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 at such time, in such a manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, which shall include— (A) a description of performance measures to be used to evaluate the State or Tribal soil health program and the 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, 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 the lower of— (A) $5,000,000; or (B) as applicable— (i) 50 percent of the cost of implementing the State soil health program in the fiscal year; or (ii) 75 percent of the cost of implementing the Tribal soil health program in the fiscal year. (2) Term A grant under this section shall be for 1 year, and may be renewed annually. (e) Audits and reviews An eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary— (1) 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; and (2) at such intervals as the Secretary shall establish, a review and evaluation of the State or Tribal soil health program. (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 made available to carry out this subchapter, $100,000,000 shall be available in each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out this section. (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..

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: 1240L–2. State assistance for soil health (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible Indian Tribe The term eligible Indian Tribe means an Indian Tribe that is— (A) implementing a soil health 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 program. (2) Eligible State The term eligible State means a State that is— (A) implementing a soil health program for the State; and (B) meeting or exceeding performance measures established by the State for the soil health program. (3) Soil health program The term soil health program means a program to improve soil health on agricultural land that— (A) is broadly consistent with the soil health principles of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, as determined by the Secretary; 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 on agricultural lands through the implementation of State and Tribal soil health 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 at such time, in such a manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, which shall include— (A) a description of performance measures to be used to evaluate the State or Tribal soil health program and the 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, 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 the lower of— (A) $5,000,000; or (B) as applicable— (i) 50 percent of the cost of implementing the State soil health program in the fiscal year; or (ii) 75 percent of the cost of implementing the Tribal soil health program in the fiscal year. (2) Term A grant under this section shall be for 1 year, and may be renewed annually. (e) Audits and reviews An eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary— (1) 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; and (2) at such intervals as the Secretary shall establish, a review and evaluation of the State or Tribal soil health program. (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 made available to carry out this subchapter, $100,000,000 shall be available in each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out this section. (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..