H.R. 9344

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9344 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9344

To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977, to provide for marijuana agricultural research 
program at 1890 institutions, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 18, 2026

Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself and Ms. Titus) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977, to provide for marijuana agricultural research 
program at 1890 institutions, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Establishing and Developing 
University Cannabis Agriculture Techniques and Excellence Act of 2026'' 
or the ``EDUCATE Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. MARIJUANA RESEARCH AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS.

The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``Subtitle P--Marijuana Research at 1890 Institutions

``SEC. 1492. MARIJUANA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROGRAM AT 1890 
INSTITUTIONS.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of 
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (in this subtitle 
referred to as the `Secretary'), shall establish a program under which 
the Secretary will award, on a competitive basis grants to authorized 
institutions to conduct research on the cultivation (including 
agronomic best practices) and processing of marijuana. Such research 
may include research on the following topics:
``(1) The optimization of cultivation and harvesting 
practices for marijuana crops.
``(2) The examination of soil health, water conservation, 
pest management, and sustainability impacts of marijuana 
agriculture.
``(3) The evaluation of economic development opportunities 
for minority and disadvantaged farmers in emerging marijuana 
markets.
``(4) Workforce development, training, and extension 
activities related to marijuana agriculture.
``(b) Application.--An authorized institution seeking a grant under 
this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, including documentation of the registration of the institution 
as described in section 1492D(2).
``(c) Selection of Grantees.--In selecting authorized institutions 
to receive a grant under this section, the Secretary shall--
``(1) give priority to institutions that have partnerships 
with minority and small-scale farmers or community-based 
agricultural organizations; and
``(2) ensure an equitable distribution of grant funds among 
such institutions.
``(d) Condition.--An authorized institution receiving a grant under 
this section shall agree, as a condition on receipt of such grant, to 
coordinate with the Secretary and other Federal agencies to ensure 
compliance with applicable Federal laws relating to the possession, 
handling, study, or other research activity involving marijuana.
``(e) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(2) Reservation of funds.--Of the funds made available 
under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
reserve not less than 25 percent to award grants to authorized 
institutions that are Hispanic-serving institutions.

``SEC. 1492A. MARIJUANA AGRICULTURE STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program (to be 
known as the Marijuana Agriculture Studies Scholarship Program) under 
which the Secretary will award grants to authorized institutions for 
purposes of awarding scholarships to individuals who--
``(1)(A) have been accepted for admission at such 
institution and will be enrolled full-time at such institution 
in an undergraduate or graduate program in the food and 
agricultural sciences not later than one year after the date of 
such acceptance; or
``(B) are enrolled full-time at such institution in such an 
undergraduate or graduate program; and
``(2) intend to pursue, or are pursuing a career in 
marijuana or hemp agriculture, marijuana cultivation, plant 
science, agricultural technology, agricultural science, or 
agricultural policy.
``(b) Application.--An authorized institution seeking a grant under 
this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, including documentation of the registration of the institution 
as described in section 1492D(2).
``(c) Maximum Amounts.--
``(1) Scholarship amount.--The amount of a scholarship 
awarded pursuant to this section shall not exceed $10,000 per 
student, per academic year.
``(2) Grant amount.--Of the funds made available under 
subsection (c), the Secretary may use not more than $100,000 to 
award grants under this subsection for the academic year 
beginning on July 1, 2027, and each succeeding academic year 
for which such funds remain available.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030.

``SEC. 1492B. REPORTING.

``Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
subtitle, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a 
report describing--
``(1) grants awarded under the program established under 
section 1492;
``(2) the outcomes and findings of research conducted 
pursuant to such section; and
``(3) the participation in the scholarship program under 
section 1492A and outcomes of such program.

``SEC. 1492C. NONDISCRIMINATION; SAFE HARBOR; RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

``(a) No Denial of Federal Benefit.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, an institution of higher education, faculty member, 
researcher, employee, or student that receives funding under, conducts 
research pursuant to, or participates in a program or activity 
authorized by, this Act shall not be denied any Federal benefit, grant, 
or contract, solely because of the cultivation, possession, handling, 
study, or other research activity involving marijuana conducted in 
accordance with this Act.
``(b) No Federal Prosecution or Civil Penalties for Allowed 
Conduct.--An individual or entity who receives funding under, conducts 
research pursuant to, or participates in a program or activity 
authorized by this Act shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or 
civil or administrative penalties under Federal law relating to that 
receipt of funding, research, or participation so long as the 
individual or entity, in receiving such funds, conducting such 
research, or participating in such a program or activity is acting 
within the scope of the applicable registration under section 303 of 
the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) and such other 
requirements as may be imposed by the Secretary under this Act.

``SEC. 1492D. DEFINITIONS.

``In this Act:
``(1) The term `1890 Institution' has the meaning given 
such term in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).
``(2) The term `authorized institution' means a covered 
institution that, as of the date on which the institution 
submits an application under section 1492 or 1492A (as 
applicable), has a registration in effect under section 303 of 
the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) to conduct 
research with marijuana.
``(3) The term `marijuana' has the meaning given such term 
in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 
802).
``(4) The term `covered institution' means--
``(A) an 1890 Institution;
``(B) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in 
section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1101a)); and
``(C) a part B institution (as defined in section 
322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1061)) that--
``(i) is not an 1890 Institution; and
``(ii) has an accredited program offering 
education in the food and agricultural 
sciences.''.
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