H.R. 1592 – SOLAR Act | Legislate.dev

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Updated November 24, 2025 at 2:25 AM UTC

The SOLAR Act would restrict the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from providing financial assistance for ground‑mounted solar projects that turn protected farmland into solar farms. It aims to keep farmland in agricultural use while still allowing small or locally supported solar installations. The bill applies to any USDA‑funded solar project that would convert "covered farmland" as defined by existing farmland protection laws.

Key Provisions

The USDA Secretary may not fund any solar project that converts covered farmland into solar energy production, unless an exception applies.
Exceptions include projects that convert less than 5 acres, projects under 50 acres where most of the electricity is used on the farm, or projects that receive formal approval from every county and municipality where they are located.
Projects that rely on the local‑approval exception must create a farmland conservation plan that protects soil health, prevents erosion, and funds decommissioning and restoration of the land after the solar system is removed.
The USDA can obligate funds for such projects only after the applicant has provided the conservation plan and secured sufficient restoration funding; disbursement is withheld until compliance is verified.
If a project fails to follow the conservation plan, the recipient must repay the full amount of USDA assistance.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.

Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee

March 28, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 26, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

February 26, 2025

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.

Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee

March 28, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 26, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1592

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 Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To limit USDA funding for ground-mounted solar energy systems, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Securing Our Lands and Resources Act or the SOLAR Act.

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 activity that results in the covered farmland failing to meet the requirements of a State (defined in section 343 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991)) for agricultural production, 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 financial assistance for a project that would result in the conversion of covered farmland for solar energy production.

(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

(3)

has received a resolution of approval or support, or other similar instrument from each county and municipality in which the project is sited.

(d)

Covered farmland protection

(1)

Farmland conservation plan required

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 decommissioning; and

(ii)

remediate and restore the soil health of the farmland to that of the farmland before the solar energy production project construction; and

(B)

ensure sufficient funds, as determined by the Secretary, are provided for the decommissioning of the solar energy production system and the remediation and restoration of covered farmland to carry out the farmland conservation plan described in subparagraph (A).

(2)

Obligation and disbursement of funds

The Secretary may obligate financial assistance 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 implementation

A person referred to in paragraph (1) shall carry out—

(A)

the provisions of the plan that are described 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 described 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 financial assistance provided by the Secretary to the person for the project.