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S 4912

BUFFER Act

119th Congress Introduced by Bernie Sanders and 1 co-sponsor

The BUFFER Act tightens CRP eligibility by disallowing enrollment on lands subject to mandatory environmental or resource-conserving requirements unless those requirements are only

Introduced in Senate
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Bill Summary · S 4912

Overview

  • Bill: S. 4912 – BUFFER Act (Building Up Farmland Frontiers for Ecological Resilience Act)
  • Session: 119th Congress
  • Introduced: June 24, 2026 by Sen. Welch (for himself and Sen. Sanders)
  • Purpose: Amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to clarify land eligibility for enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Main purpose and intent

The BUFFER Act seeks to modify eligibility criteria for land to enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program. The core aim is to clarify what land qualifies and to add a specific protection-related disqualification for land subject to certain environmental or resource-conserving requirements.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends Section 1231(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)).
  • Revisions to eligibility criteria:
    • Removes a barrier related to certain language in paragraph (6)(B)(ii) and related wording, effectively broadening or refining the eligibility framework.
    • Replaces the existing language in paragraph (7) (including the text before subparagraph (A) and subparagraph (C)) with revised phrasing to adjust eligibility determinations.
    • Adds a new eligibility condition (subsection (8)) for land that is otherwise eligible for enrollment but is subject to land-use requirements imposed by Tribal, State, or local laws, ordinances, or regulations that require any resource-conserving or environmental protection measure or practice.
  • Net effect of new subsection (8):
    • Land eligible for enrollment would be disqualified if there is a required environmental or conservation measure imposed by laws/regulations, unless such requirement has been imposed by an administrative order or a court order.
    • If the requirement is due to an administrative or court order, eligibility is still denied (the land shall not be eligible for enrollment in that case).

Who or what would be affected

  • Landowners and land eligible for enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) under the Food Security Act.
  • Lands subject to Tribal, State, or local environmental/conservation requirements:
    • If those requirements mandate resource-conserving or environmental protection measures, those lands would be ineligible for CRP enrollment under the new clause, with the caveat regarding administrative or court orders.
  • Agencies administering CRP and implementing eligibility rules under the Farm Bill.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill was introduced on June 24, 2026, and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  • There is no timeline provided within the text for implementation; as a bill, it would require passage by both chambers of Congress and the President’s signature to become law.
  • The text reflects an amendment to existing statutory language, signaling a targeted change to CRP eligibility criteria rather than a broad reform of the program.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Clarifies and potentially tightens eligibility for CRP lands affected by external governmental environmental requirements.
  • Could reduce the pool of eligible CRP lands in jurisdictions where laws or orders mandate resource-conserving measures.
  • May create administrative considerations for landowners to determine whether existing regulations (and their status as administrative/court orders) affect CRP eligibility.
  • The bill emphasizes ecological resilience by ensuring that lands with enforceable environmental protections are evaluated consistently with respect to CRP enrollment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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