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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7923 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7923

To limit USDA funding for ground-mounted solar energy systems, and for 
                            other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 10, 2024

  Mr. Bost (for himself, Mr. Finstad, Mr. Langworthy, and Mr. Austin 
Scott of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                      the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To limit USDA funding for ground-mounted solar energy systems, 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 ``Securing Our Lands and Resources 
Act'' or the ``SOLAR Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON USDA FUNDING FOR GROUND-MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY 
              SYSTEMS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered farmland.--The term ``covered farmland'' has 
        the meaning given in the term in section 1540(c)(1) of the 
        Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. 4201(c)(1)).
            (2) Conversion.--The term ``conversion'' means, with 
        respect to covered farmland, any activity that results in the 
        covered farmland failing to meet the requirements of a State 
        (as defined in section 343 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
        Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991)) for agricultural production, 
        activity, or use.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
    (b) In General.--The Secretary may not provide financial assistance 
for a project that would result in the conversion of covered farmland 
for solar energy production.
    (c) Exception.--Subsection (b) shall not apply to a project if the 
project--
            (1) results in the conversion of less than the greater of--
                    (A) a de minimis amount of covered farmland for 
                solar energy production relative to the total project 
                area necessary for the success of the project, as 
                determined by the Secretary, not to exceed 5 acres; or
                    (B) 1 acre of covered farmland; and
            (2) has received a resolution of approval or support, or 
        other similar instrument from each county and municipality in 
        which the project is sited.
    (d) Covered Farmland Protection.--
            (1) Mitigation and remediation plan required.--A person who 
        has applied to the Secretary for financial assistance for a 
        project that would result in the conversion of covered farmland 
        for solar energy production and to which subsection (b) does 
        not apply shall--
                    (A) develop a mitigation and remediation plan for 
                the project to--
                            (i) implement best practices to protect 
                        future soil health and productivity, and 
                        mitigate soil erosion, compaction, and other 
                        effects of solar energy production during 
                        construction, operation, and decommissioning; 
                        and
                            (ii) remediate and restore the soil health 
                        of the farmland to that of the farmland before 
                        the solar energy production project 
                        construction; and
                    (B) ensure that sufficient funds, as determined by 
                the Secretary, are provided for the decommissioning of 
                the solar energy production system and the remediation 
                and restoration of covered farmland to carry out the 
                mitigation and remediation plan described in 
                subparagraph (A).
            (2) Obligation and disbursement of funds.--The Secretary 
        may obligate financial assistance for a project described in 
        paragraph (1), but shall not disburse the financial assistance 
        until the Secretary has determined that the applicant for the 
        financial assistance has complied with paragraph (1).
            (3) Plan implementation.--A person referred to in paragraph 
        (1) shall carry out--
                    (A) the provisions of the plan that are described 
                in paragraph (1)(A)(i), on the receipt by the project 
                of financial assistance from the Secretary and for the 
                duration of solar energy production under the project; 
                and
                    (B) the provisions of the plan that are described 
                in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), on the cessation of solar 
                energy production under the project.
            (4) Compliance.--A person who fails to comply with 
        paragraph (3) with respect to a project shall repay to the 
        Secretary the full amount of the financial assistance provided 
        by the Secretary to the person for the project.
                                 <all>
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