S. 629 Became law · Public Law 119-102 Agriculture and Food

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025

A bill to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to remove barriers to agricultural producers in accessing funds to carry out emergency measures under the emergency conservation program, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] Introduced February 19, 2025 Cosponsors 2 (2 D) Latest action July 12, 2026

Summary

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025
This act revises the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to expand eligibility for payments to agricultural producers and owners of forest land impacted by natural disasters. The act also provides additional options to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures.
The act expands advance ECP payments to include the replacement, repair, or restoration of farmland or conservation structures requiring an immediate response. Producers may receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for 75% of the cost of the replacement and 50% of the cost of the repair or restoration. Current law limits advance payments to 25% of the cost of the repair or replacement of fencing.
Under EFRP, the act allows owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by a natural disaster to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for up to 75% of the cost of the emergency measures. Currently, advance payments are not available under the program.
ECP and EFRP recipients must use the funds within 180 days after the funds are disbursed. This provides additional time to ECP recipients who currently must use the funds within 60 days.
The act also expands eligibility for payments under the programs to include emergency measures to address damages caused by (1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes; and (2) a wildfire that is caused by the federal government.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Roll-call votes

Actions

  1. Jul 12, 2026 Became Public Law No: 119-102.
  2. Jul 12, 2026 Sent to Archivist of the United States unsigned.
  3. Jun 30, 2026 Presented to President.
  4. Jun 23, 2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Jun 23, 2026 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 368 - 19 (Roll no. 223). (text: CR H4137)
  6. Jun 23, 2026 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4192)
  7. Jun 23, 2026 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  8. Jun 23, 2026 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 629.
  9. Jun 23, 2026 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4137-4138)
  10. Jun 23, 2026 Mr. Lucas moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  11. Mar 24, 2026 Held at the desk.
  12. Mar 24, 2026 Received in the House.

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