I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8277 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the effects 
of solar panel installations on covered farmland, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 7, 2024 
Mrs. MILLER of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study 
on the effects of solar panel installations on covered 
farmland, 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 ‘‘Preserving America’s 
Farmland Act’’. 
SEC. 2. STUDY ON EFFECTS OF SOLAR PANEL INSTALLA-
TIONS ON COVERED FARMLAND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Energy, shall conduct a study on 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:46 Jun 09, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8277.IH
H8277
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
the effects of solar panel installations on the conversion 
of covered farmland out of agricultural production. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An analysis of the economic effects of solar 
panel installations on— 
(A) converted and adjacent covered farm-
land, including on— 
(i) crop yields; 
(ii) land values, including adjacent 
properties; and 
(iii) land access and tenure; 
(B) local economies; and 
(C) food security. 
(2) The impacts of solar panel installation, op-
eration, and decommissioning on— 
(A) covered farmland; 
(B) soil health; 
(C) water resources; 
(D) wildlife; 
(E) water drainage; and 
(F) vegetation. 
(3) An evaluation of existing Federal, State, or 
local tax incentives that encourage solar panel instal-
lations on covered farmland. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:46 Jun 09, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8277.IH
H8277
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(4) An evaluation of existing Federal, State, or 
local incentives to install solar panel installations on 
previously disturbed non-agricultural lands, such as 
the built environment, contaminated land, or land-
fills. 
(5) An evaluation of the effectiveness of pro-
grams administered by the Secretary and the Sec-
retary of Energy that— 
(A) incentivize the use of solar energy to 
shift development towards the non-agricultural 
lands described in paragraph (4); and 
(B) discourage solar panel installations 
that would transition covered farmland out of 
agricultural production. 
(6) An estimate of the loss of agricultural pro-
duction on covered farmland due to solar panel in-
stallations. 
(c) 
CONSULTATION
WITH
RELEVANT
STAKE-
HOLDERS.—In carrying out the study required under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall consult with relevant farm-
ers, ranchers, landowners, agricultural organizations, 
State departments of agriculture, conservation organiza-
tions, and land-grant colleges and universities. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:46 Jun 09, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8277.IH
H8277
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(1) submit to the Committee on Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a 
written report on the findings of the study; and 
(2) make such report publicly available. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED FARMLAND.—The term ‘‘covered 
farmland’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘farm-
land’’ in section 1540(c)(1) of the Farmland Protec-
tion Policy Act (7 U.S.C. 4201(c)(1)). 
(2) LAND
GRANT
COLLEGES
AND
UNIVER-
SITIES.—The term ‘‘land grand colleges and univer-
sities’’ has the meaning give the term in section 
1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3103)). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:46 Jun 09, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H8277.IH
H8277
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB