S. 5526
Agricultural Act of 2026
Sponsor: John Boozman · 0 cosponsors
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Text of the bill
I Commodities
A Commodity Policy
B Dairy
C Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance
D Administration
II Conservation
A Conservation Reserve Program
B Environmental Quality Incentives Program
C Conservation Stewardship Program
D Funding and administration
E Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
F Regional Conservation Partnership Program
G Forest Conservation Easement Program
H Other Conservation programs
III Trade
A Food for Peace Act
B Agricultural Trade Act of 1978
C Other agricultural trade laws
D Reports
IV Nutrition
A Supplemental nutrition assistance program
B Commodity distribution programs
C Miscellaneous
V Credit
A Farm Credit System
B Farm ownership and operating loans
C Administrative provisions
VI Rural Development
A Rural Electrification Act of 1936
I Rural broadband access
II Additional amendments
B Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
C Miscellaneous
I Rural care economy
II Other miscellaneous provisions
VII Research, Extension, and Related Matters
A National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
B Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
C Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998
D Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
I Agricultural security
II Miscellaneous provisions
E Other Matters
VIII Forestry
A Forest data modernization
B Forest health and management
I Forest Service management
II State and private partnerships
III Timber innovation
C Forest conservation
D Land designations
E White oak resilience
F Other matters
IX Energy
X Horticulture
A Horticulture marketing and information
B Regulatory reform
XI Crop insurance
XII Miscellaneous
A Livestock
B National security
C Fertilizer
D United States grain standards reauthorization
E Year-Round E15 and RFS reform
F Other miscellaneous provisions
(a) Definitions. In this section:
(1) Agency action. The term agency action has the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Qualified renewable biomass
(A) In general. The term qualified renewable biomass means—
(i) forest product manufacturing bioenergy feedstock, including from—
(I) forest product manufacturing residuals, including spent pulping liquors, pulping by-products, bark, woody manufacturing residuals, paper recycling residuals, wastewater and process water treatment plant residuals, and anaerobic digester biogas;
(II) harvest residue, including portions of harvested trees that are too small or of too poor quality to be utilized for wood products or paper products;
(III) downed wood from extreme weather events and natural disasters, nonhazardous landscape or right-of-way trimmings and municipal trimmings, and plant material removed for purposes of invasive or noxious plant species control;
(IV) biowaste, including landfill gas; and
(V) nonchemically treated used wood products, such as crates or pallets; and
(ii) forest biomass derived from residues created as a by-product of timber harvesting—
(I) including treetops, tree limbs, and bark; but
(II) excluding stumps, roots, and round wood suitable for industrial purposes.
(B) Exclusion. The term qualified renewable biomass does not include paper of a type that is commonly recycled.
(b) Consideration as renewable energy source. With respect to any agency action of the Department related to qualified renewable biomass, the Secretary shall—
(1) consider qualified renewable biomass to be a renewable energy source; and
(2) assign the qualified renewable biomass a greenhouse gas emission rate and a carbon intensity of not greater than zero if the use of the qualified renewable biomass as fuel does not cause the conversion of forests to nonforest use.
(c) Petitions. Not later than 1 year after receiving a petition requesting a change to a rule, policy, or program of the Department in order to comply with the requirements of subsection (b), the Secretary shall take such action as may be necessary to comply with such requirements with respect to such rule, policy, or program.
(d) Guidance
(1) Establishment. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish guidance for purposes of carrying out subsections (b) and (c).
(2) Modification. The Secretary may periodically update the guidance established under paragraph (1) as the Secretary determines necessary.
(3) Consultation. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with—
(A) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(B) the Secretary of Energy; and
(C) any other relevant entities, as determined by the Secretary.