Healthy Soils Legislation Update - May 2019

State	Bill #	Chamber	Sponsor	Title
Connecticut (CT)	​HB 6647	House	​Fred Camillo (R)	An Act Establishing A Regenerative Agriculture Program
Illinois (IL)	HB 2737	House	Michael Halpin (D)	Soil & Water Conservation Dist
Illinois (IL)	HB 2819	House	Chris Miller (R)	DNR-Soil Health Practices
Illinois (IL)	SB 1980	Senate	Scott M. Bennett (D)	Soil & Water Conservation Dist

See full state legislative Google spreadsheet here ​

Comments from Steven Keleti

Connecticut (HB6647)  draft includes definition for “healthy soils practices” and sets up fund for programs; draft not filed, due to full docket – will be submitted for 2020 session.
Illinois (SB1980/HB2737) adds definition for “soil health”, and includes soil health in soil and water conservation districts law – moving forward in both chambers and has broad support.
(HB2819) allows Dept. of Natural Resources to require soil health requirements in leases of state land – tabled in committee
Iowa (HSB 78) provides for tax exemption for planting cover crops – stalled in committee.
(HF 102) provides "for a statewide soil resource health and recovery monitoring system” – stalled in committee.
Massachusetts (SD1438/HD3065) adds definition for “healthy soils practices” and sets up fund for programs, adds expert on healthy soils practices to food policy council – broad bi-partisan support with 37% of legislators co-sponsoring, hearing likely in May.
Nebraska (LB243) creates Soil Health Task Force – signed into law 4/17/2019!
(LB283) funding for creation of climate action plan, including through improvements to soil health – stalled in committee.
(LB729) provides incentives for cover crops  – stalled in committee.
New Mexico (SB218/HB204) sets up healthy soils program – signed into law 4/2/2019!
New York (A02718) provides tax exemption for carbon farming, with exemption based upon the economic value of carbon sequestered – in committee.
Oregon (HB2020) sets up cap-and-invest, allowing funding of agricultural sequestration of carbon – in committee.
Washington (SB 5947/HB 2095) sets up sustainable farm and field program – in committee at end of session.

It is still reasonably possible for legislation to be filed this session in:
Ohio – draft legislation exists, adding definition of healthy soils practices to soil and water conservation districts law and creates fund for healthy soils programs; there appears to be a legislator interested in submitting the bill, yet more support is needed.
Vermont – H903 from last session probably will be taken up again, providing improvements to Vermont Environmental Stewardship Program.
Perhaps another healthy soils bill will also be filed.

It is likely that legislation supporting healthy soils will be before legislatures in 2020 in (east-to-west):
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington,
and possible in numerous other states.