Federal · S. 629, Public Law 119-102
Farmers and forest owners hit by disasters can get larger up-front USDA payments under a new law
Became law July 12, 2026
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The short version
- USDA's Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) helps farmers repair farmland damaged by natural disasters. The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) does the same for private, non-industrial forest land.
- Under ECP, farmers can now get up to 75% of the cost of a replacement, or 50% of a repair or restoration, before doing the work. Before, advance payments covered only fencing, at 25% according to the CRS summary.
- Private forest owners can, for the first time, get an advance of up to 75% of the cost of emergency measures under EFRP.
- Advances must be spent within 180 days, up from 60 days for ECP. Eligibility now also covers some wildfires started by people (if natural causes spread them) and wildfires caused by the federal government.
- Status
- Became Public Law 119-102 on July 12, 2026; Congress.gov records it as sent to the Archivist unsigned.
- Official source
- Congress.gov: S.629, Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 (Public Law 119-102)
Enrolled bill text
What it does
- ECP advance payments. Advances now cover fencing and also “other emergency measures to replace or restore farmland or conservation structures requiring an immediate response.” Producers may get, before doing the work, “75 percent of the cost of the replacement” or “50 percent of the cost of the repair or restoration,” as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. (Enrolled text, sec. 2) The CRS summary says prior law limited advances to 25% of the cost of repairing or replacing fencing. (CRS summary)
- More time. The window to use ECP advance funds goes from 60 to 180 days. (Enrolled text, sec. 2)
- EFRP advances. Owners of nonindustrial private forest land may get “not more than 75 percent of the cost of the emergency measures” in advance. They must return funds not spent within 180 days. (Enrolled text, sec. 3)
- Wildfires. Eligible damage now includes a wildfire “that is not caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes,” and a wildfire “caused by the Federal Government.” (Enrolled text, secs. 2 and 3)
Who it affects
Farmers and ranchers with land or conservation structures damaged by natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods or wildfires, and private forest landowners. These programs are run by USDA’s Farm Service Agency. (Enrolled text; USDA FSA)
What it means for you
If a disaster damages your farmland or private forest, you may be able to get a bigger share of the cost before you pay for repairs. Contact your county USDA Farm Service Agency office about ECP or EFRP sign-up after a disaster.
How it passed
The Senate passed it by unanimous consent on March 24, 2026, and the House 368-19 on June 23, 2026. It became law on July 12, 2026, without the President’s signature. (Congress.gov actions)
Current status
Law since July 12, 2026 (Public Law 119-102). (Congress.gov)
Sources
- Congress.gov: S.629 (actions and CRS summary)
- Congress.gov: S.629 enrolled text
- USDA Farm Service Agency: Emergency Conservation Program
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Every statement above is drawn from the official source text linked here; section references are shown in grey. This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Spot an error? Tell us.