H.R. 10204 – Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2024

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 8:05 PM UTC

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2024 updates the 1985 Food Security Act to make the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program more flexible and responsive to drought and water‑conservation needs. It lets participants choose how payments are spread over the contract term and expands the types of land and practices that can qualify. The changes affect landowners and operators who enroll in the program and the USDA agencies that administer payments.

Key Provisions

Allows owners or operators to decide how annual CREP payments are allocated across the years of an agreement.
Creates specific payment rates for agreements that retire water rights or permit dry‑land agricultural uses, based on the difference between irrigated and dry‑land acre rates.
Expands eligible conservation practices to include dry‑land agriculture and grazing, and requires a conservation plan for certain practices.
Makes certain agreement provisions mandatory rather than optional and clarifies eligible agricultural land, including land with continuous crops or rotations.
Exempts rental payments received under CREP agreements from the general payment limitation in the Food Security Act.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee

December 13, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 21, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

November 21, 2024

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee

December 13, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued November 21, 2024

I

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10204

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 21, 2024

Ms. Caraveo introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to modify the conservation reserve enhancement program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2024.

2.

Conservation reserve enhancement program

(a)

In general

Section 1231A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)(4), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting (other than an agreement described in subsection (e)) after this subchapter;

(2)

in subsection (b)(2)(A)(vi), by inserting or other appropriate practices, such as dryland agricultural uses and grazing, after conservation practices;

(3)

in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:

(5)

Variable allocation

An owner or operator may elect to determine the amounts of annual payments under this section allocated to each year of the agreement under subsection (b)(1).

(6)

Drought and water conservation agreements

(A)

Retirement of water rights

In the case of an agreement described in subsection (e) that includes a permanent retirement of water rights, the payment rates for annual payments shall be equal to the irrigated acre payment rates determined by the Secretary.

(B)

Dryland agricultural uses

(i)

In general

In the case of an agreement described in subsection (e) that permits dryland agricultural uses pursuant to paragraph (2) of that subsection, the payment rates for annual payments shall be equal to the difference between—

(I)

the irrigated acre payment rates determined by the Secretary; and

(II)

the dryland acre payment rates determined by the Secretary.

(ii)

Retroactive application

In the case of an agreement covered by clause (i) entered into before the date of enactment of this paragraph under which the payment rate is lower than the payment rate that would be calculated for the agreement under that clause, the Secretary shall modify the agreement by calculating the payment rate in accordance with that clause.

; and

(4)

in subsection (e)—

(A)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking may— and inserting shall—;

(B)

in paragraph (1), by inserting (including agricultural land on which a continuous crop or crop rotation is maintained) after agricultural land;

(C)

in paragraph (2), by striking with the adoption of best management practices on and inserting in accordance with a conservation plan adopted with respect to; and

(D)

in paragraph (3), by inserting subject to subsection (c)(6), before calculate.

(b)

Exemption from payment limitation

Section 1234(g) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(g)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting paragraphs (2) and (3); and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(3)

Conservation reserve enhancement program

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to rental payments received under agreements entered into under section 1231A.

.