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Bill > HB1741


PA HB1741

PA HB1741
In Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program, further providing for definitions and for powers, duties and administration.


summary

Introduced
07/16/2025
In Committee
07/16/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), entitled "An act relating to the finances of the State government; providing for cancer control, prevention and research, for ambulatory surgical center data collection, for the Joint Underwriting Association, for entertainment business financial management firms, for private dam financial assurance and for reinstatement of item vetoes; providing for the settlement, assessment, collection, and lien of taxes, bonus, and all other accounts due the Commonwealth, the collection and recovery of fees and other money or property due or belonging to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, including escheated property and the proceeds of its sale, the custody and disbursement or other disposition of funds and securities belonging to or in the possession of the Commonwealth, and the settlement of claims against the Commonwealth, the resettlement of accounts and appeals to the courts, refunds of moneys erroneously paid to the Commonwealth, auditing the accounts of the Commonwealth and all agencies thereof, of all public officers collecting moneys payable to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, and all receipts of appropriations from the Commonwealth, authorizing the Commonwealth to issue tax anticipation notes to defray current expenses, implementing the provisions of section 7(a) of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania authorizing and restricting the incurring of certain debt and imposing penalties; affecting every department, board, commission, and officer of the State government, every political subdivision of the State, and certain officers of such subdivisions, every person, association, and corporation required to pay, assess, or collect taxes, or to make returns or reports under the laws imposing taxes for State purposes, or to pay license fees or other moneys to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, every State depository and every debtor or creditor of the Commonwealth," in Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program, further providing for definitions and for powers, duties and administration.

AI Summary

This bill amends the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program by updating definitions and modifying requirements for conservation districts. Specifically, it expands the definition of "best management practice" (BMP) to explicitly include cover crops, which are crops grown primarily to control erosion, improve soil health, attract pollinators, and provide additional environmental benefits. The bill requires conservation districts to allocate at least 15% of their apportioned funds to cover crop projects, with flexibility to reallocate unused funds to other best management practices if there are insufficient cover crop project applications. A cover crop is defined more comprehensively as including grasses, small grains, and legumes that serve multiple environmental and agricultural purposes. The bill aims to promote soil conservation, enhance agricultural sustainability, and provide conservation districts with clearer guidelines for implementing agricultural conservation practices. The changes will take effect 60 days after the bill's enactment.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Laid on the table (on 11/17/2025)

bill text


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