State conservation assistance

Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by inserting after section 1240O (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–2) the following: 1240P. State conservation assistance (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Agricultural land The term agricultural land means— (A) cropland; (B) grassland; (C) rangeland; (D) pasture land; (E) nonindustrial private forest land; and (F) other land in agricultural areas (including wetlands, marshes, and agricultural land used or capable of being used for the production of livestock), as determined by the Secretary. (2) Conservation assistance program The term conservation assistance program means a program implemented by an Indian Tribe or State to improve soil health or wildlife habitat or address other local resource concerns on agricultural land that— (A) is broadly consistent with the conservation principles of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, as determined by the Secretary, including the use of perennial grasses; 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 to be appropriate. (3) Eligible Indian Tribe The term eligible Indian Tribe means an Indian Tribe that is— (A) implementing a new or existing conservation assistance 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 program. (4) Eligible State The term eligible State means a State that is— (A) implementing a new or existing conservation assistance program for the State; and (B) meeting or exceeding performance measures established by the State for the program. (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 or wildlife habitat or addressing other local resource concerns on agricultural land through the implementation of State and Tribal conservation assistance 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 conservation assistance program and the expected 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, and not supplant, the expenditure of State or Tribal 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 submitted by an eligible State under paragraph (1). (d) Grants (1) Amount The amount of a grant to an eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe under this section for a fiscal year shall not exceed the lesser of— (A) $10,000,000; and (B) 100 percent of the cost of implementing the State or Tribal conservation assistance program in the fiscal year. (2) Term A grant under this section shall be for a term of not longer than 5 years at the discretion of the eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe and may be renewed in accordance with paragraph (3), and the eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe shall expend the grant funds by the end of the term of the grant. (3) Renewal If the Secretary determines that a grant under this section has met or exceeded the objectives of the State or Tribal conservation assistance program, the Secretary may renew the grant for up to 5 years through an expedited noncompetitive process. (4) Limitations (A) The Secretary may not condition a grant under this section on the basis that a conservation assistance program, or any requirement of such program, differs from a requirement, guideline, technical standard, or administrative directive of the Department of Agriculture. (B) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Secretary from requiring compliance with applicable Federal law or requirements governing the use of funds made available under this section. (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 conservation assistance 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 1 or more 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) Administration (1) Department The Secretary shall 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 and Indian Tribes An eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe receiving a grant under this section shall not use more than 7 percent of the grant funds for a fiscal year for administrative expenses. (h) Funding Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to make grants under this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031..