Tina Smith (D-MN)
Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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 establish a standardized methodology for measuring soil carbon. This includes creating a system for voluntary reporting and providing technical assistance to producers. The bill also expands research grants to include soil carbon sequestration and emissions. Additionally, it establishes a Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network to monitor soil carbon changes across the United States. Finally, the Act requires the development of predictive modeling tools to estimate the impacts of land management practices on atmospheric gases and soil carbon.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +6
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill allocates specific funds to expand the scope of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative for soil carbon research.
- Scored +5
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill provides technical assistance, on-farm demonstration projects, and tools to help farmers manage soil carbon and emissions.
- Scored +5
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The bill funds research, demonstration projects, and modeling specifically aimed at increasing soil carbon sequestration and managing greenhouse gas emissions.
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 Tools: The Secretary will develop a standardized methodology to directly measure soil carbon, which can be used for research and conservation purposes (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Support for Producers: The Secretary is required to provide technical assistance and guidance to producers for voluntarily measuring, monitoring, and reporting soil carbon data (Section 3(b)(1)(A)).
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Accessibility of Guidance: Guidance provided to producers must be available in multiple languages and in both digital and analog formats to ensure broad accessibility (Section 3(b)(1)(B)).
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On-Farm Demonstration Projects: The bill directs the Secretary to conduct on-farm demonstration projects specifically for soil carbon sequestration (Section 5(b)(2)).
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Protection of Property Rights: The Secretary must obtain authorization from a land owner before selecting a sample site or conducting measurements, ensuring individual control over private property (Section 6(e)(1)).
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Privacy Safeguards: The bill requires that data collection respects privacy safeguards and does not include identifiable, proprietary, or personal information of individual land owners or operators (Section 6(e)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Requirement for Authorization: While the bill protects property rights, it still requires the Secretary to obtain authorization from land owners before conducting measurements or selecting sites (Section 6(e)(1)).
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Information Collection: The Secretary will establish a program to inventory, monitor, and analyze soil carbon changes on eligible land, including public and private cropland, rangeland, pastureland, and wetlands (Section 6(b)(1)).
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, on-farm demonstration projects, and tools to help farmers manage soil carbon and emissions. Would business owners be better off under this? — Agricultural producers benefit from new technical assistance, standardized measurement tools, and research-driven guidance. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The investment in agricultural research and soil health technologies supports the rural agricultural economy. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill's emphasis on consulting with socially disadvantaged farmers provides specific inclusion for these groups.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill funds research, demonstration projects, and modeling specifically aimed at increasing soil carbon sequestration and managing greenhouse gas emissions. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill enhances the understanding of soil health and its role in environmental resilience. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill invests in agricultural research and technical assistance that directly supports rural producers.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill allocates specific funds to expand the scope of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative for soil carbon research.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill invests in agricultural research and predictive modeling to optimize land management. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill expands research and demonstration projects which may support specialized agricultural roles.
- 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 specifically mandates consultation with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers during the development of methodology and modeling tools.
- 7/31/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana