Eric Sorensen (D-IL)
Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create a standardized methodology for measuring soil carbon. The bill requires the development of technical guidance and provides assistance to producers for voluntary reporting. It also establishes a program to inventory, monitor, and analyze soil carbon changes on eligible land across the United States. Additionally, the act mandates the creation of predictive modeling tools to estimate the impacts of land management practices on carbon and greenhouse gases. The bill includes provisions for on-farm conservation innovation trials and demonstration projects. Finally, it authorizes various annual appropriations to fund these research, inventory, and modeling efforts.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +6
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill authorizes significant annual appropriations for soil carbon research, inventorying, and predictive modeling.
- Scored +5
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill provides technical assistance, guidance, and on-farm demonstration opportunities specifically for producers.
- Scored +5
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The bill establishes a framework to research, monitor, and predict soil carbon sequestration to mitigate atmospheric carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Standardized Measurement Methodology: The Secretary will develop a uniform way to directly measure soil carbon, which is intended for research and conservation purposes (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Technical Assistance for Producers: The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service will provide technical assistance and guidance to producers who choose to voluntarily measure and report soil carbon (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Accessible Guidance: Guidance provided to producers will be available in multiple languages and in both digital and analog formats to ensure accessibility (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
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Support for Conservation Programs: The bill provides guidance applicable to producers receiving various grants, such as conservation innovation grants and the sustainable agriculture research and education program (Section 2(b)(2)).
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On-Farm Trials and Demonstration: The act expands the scope of on-farm conservation innovation trials to include soil health management systems aimed at maintaining or increasing soil carbon (Section 4(a)). It also requires the Secretary to conduct on-farm demonstration projects specifically for soil carbon sequestration (Section 4(b)).
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Predictive Modeling Tools: The Secretary will develop modeling tools to help producers and researchers estimate changes in atmospheric carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide resulting from land management practices (Section 6(a) and 6(c)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Requirement for Landowner Authorization: Before any sample sites are selected or measurements are conducted under the soil carbon inventory program, the Secretary must obtain authorization from the owner of the eligible land (Section 5(e)(1)).
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Data Privacy Concerns: While the bill includes requirements to protect data, it notes that the Secretary will maintain a soil characteristics inventory which may be used in partnership with various institutions (Section 5(f)). The bill mandates the use of industry standard protocols to protect identifiable, proprietary, or personal information of individual land owners or operators (Section 5(f)(4)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill provides technical assistance, guidance, and on-farm demonstration opportunities specifically for producers. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides technical assistance and guidance to help agricultural producers manage soil carbon outcomes. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill invests in agricultural research and technical assistance that supports the rural agricultural economy.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill establishes a framework to research, monitor, and predict soil carbon sequestration to mitigate atmospheric carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill promotes soil health through research and on-farm demonstration projects aimed at carbon sequestration. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill invests in agricultural research and technical assistance that directly benefits rural producers.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill authorizes significant annual appropriations for soil carbon research, inventorying, and predictive modeling.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides technical assistance and specialized guidance for agricultural producers to report soil carbon data. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill funds research into soil carbon that could optimize agricultural productivity and land management.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary to make statistical data, methodologies, and analysis publicly available.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill mandates consultation with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers during the development of measurement methodologies and predictive tools.
- 4/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/6/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 8/1/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Jennifer McClellanDemocrat · Virginia
Kim SchrierDemocrat · Washington
Jill TokudaDemocrat · Hawaii