I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1592 
To limit USDA funding for ground-mounted solar energy systems, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2025 
Mr. BOST (for himself, Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. FINSTAD, and Mr. 
TAYLOR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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.— 
(1) 
CONVERSION.—The 
term 
‘‘conversion’’ 
means, with respect to covered farmland, any activ-
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ity that results in the covered farmland failing to 
meet the requirements of a State (defined in section 
343 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1991)) for agricultural produc-
tion, activity, or use. 
(2) COVERED FARMLAND.—The term ‘‘covered 
farmland’’ means farmland, as defined in section 
1540(c)(1) of the Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 
U.S.C. 4201(c)(1)). 
(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 5 
acres of covered farmland; 
(2) results in the conversion of less than 50 
acres of covered farmland, and the majority of the 
energy produced by the project is for on-farm use; 
or 
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(3) 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) 
FARMLAND
CONSERVATION
PLAN
RE-
QUIRED.—A person who has applied to the Secretary 
for financial assistance for a project referred to in 
subsection (c)(3) shall— 
(A) develop a farmland conservation 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 sufficient funds, as determined 
by the Secretary, are provided for the decom-
missioning of the solar energy production sys-
tem and the remediation and restoration of cov-
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ered farmland to carry out the farmland con-
servation plan described in subparagraph (A). 
(2) 
OBLIGATION
AND
DISBURSEMENT
OF 
FUNDS.—The Secretary may obligate financial as-
sistance for a project described under 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) FARMLAND
CONSERVATION
PLAN
IMPLE-
MENTATION.—A person referred 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.—Any project that fails to 
comply 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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