S. 4851

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4851 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4851

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish State assistance 
for soil health and wildlife habitat, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 22, 2026

Mr. Hoeven introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish State assistance 
for soil health and wildlife habitat, 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 ``Supporting Conservation through 
Advancing Local Efforts Act of 2026'' or the ``SCALE Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. STATE ASSISTANCE FOR SOIL HEALTH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT.

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:

``SEC. 1240L-2. STATE ASSISTANCE FOR SOIL HEALTH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT.

``(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) Eligible indian tribe.--The term `eligible Indian 
Tribe' means an Indian Tribe that is--
``(A) implementing a soil health and wildlife 
habitat 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 and 
wildlife habitat program.
``(3) Eligible state.--The term `eligible State' means a 
State that is--
``(A) implementing a new or existing soil health 
and wildlife habitat program for the State; and
``(B) meeting or exceeding performance measures 
established by the State for the soil health and 
wildlife habitat program.
``(4) Soil health and wildlife habitat program.--The term 
`soil health and wildlife habitat program' means a program to 
improve soil health and wildlife habitat on agricultural land 
that--
``(A) is broadly consistent with the soil health 
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 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 and 
wildlife habitat on agricultural lands through the implementation of 
State and Tribal soil health and wildlife habitat 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 that shall contain--
``(A) a description of performance measures to be 
used to evaluate the State or Tribal soil health and 
wildlife habitat 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 the expenditure of State 
or Tribal funds in support of soil health and wildlife 
habitat, 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 $10,000,000.
``(2) Term.--A grant under this section shall be for 5 
years, and may be renewed.
``(3) Matching funds.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), to be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, a State shall provide matching 
funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in 
an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds 
provided.
``(B) Exception.--If a State is unable to provide 
matching funds under subparagraph (A) sufficient to 
receive the full amount for which the State is 
otherwise eligible, the Secretary shall provide the 
State a proportional amount of Federal funds equal to 
the amount of matching funds the State commits to 
provide.
``(e) Audits and Reviews.--An eligible State or eligible Indian 
Tribe receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the 
Secretary, 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.
``(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 of the Commodity Credit Corporation, 
the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
``(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.
``(3) Deadline.--The Secretary shall award the grants under 
this section not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this section.
``(4) No conditions.--A grant awarded under this section 
shall not--
``(A) be conditioned on any requirement, guideline, 
technical standard, or administrative directive of the 
Department of Agriculture; or
``(B) direct or require modification of any soil 
health and wildlife habitat program established, 
funded, or administered by a State or local 
government.''.
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