I 
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 Representa-
tives 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 sec-
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tion 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 activ-
ity that results in the covered farmland failing to 
meet the requirements of a State (as defined in sec-
tion 343 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Devel-
opment Act (7 U.S.C. 1991)) for agricultural pro-
duction, activity, or use. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may not provide fi-
nancial assistance for a project that would result in the 
conversion of covered farmland for solar energy produc-
tion. 
(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 farm-
land 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 
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(2) has received a resolution of approval or sup-
port, or other similar instrument from each county 
and municipality in which the project is sited. 
(d) COVERED FARMLAND PROTECTION.— 
(1) MITIGATION AND REMEDIATION PLAN RE-
QUIRED.—A person who has applied to the Secretary 
for financial assistance for a project that would re-
sult 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 decom-
missioning; and 
(ii) remediate and restore the soil 
health of the farmland to that of the farm-
land before the solar energy production 
project construction; and 
(B) ensure that sufficient funds, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, are provided for the de-
commissioning of the solar energy production 
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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 as-
sistance 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 re-
ferred to in paragraph (1) shall carry out— 
(A) the provisions of the plan that are de-
scribed 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 de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), on the cessation 
of solar energy production under the project. 
(4) COMPLIANCE.—A person who fails to com-
ply with paragraph (3) with respect to a project 
shall repay to the Secretary the full amount of the 
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financial assistance provided by the Secretary to the 
person for the project. 
Æ 
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