Plant Biostimulant Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a federal definition and regulatory framework for plant biostimulants. The bill would amend FIFRA to add clear definitions for plant biostimulant, nutritional chemical, and vitamin hormone product and to narrow what counts as a plant regulator.
Show full summary
- Farmers and growers would get clearer rules on which products qualify as plant biostimulants. The bill defines them as substances or microorganisms applied to seeds, plants, soil, or growth media that support natural plant processes and improve nutrient use, stress tolerance, or yield.
- Manufacturers and regulators would face new categories and exclusions under FIFRA. The bill would add three new defined terms and direct the Environmental Protection Agency to revise its subchapter E regulations within 120 days after enactment.
- Researchers and land managers would see a new federal soil health study. The Secretary of Agriculture would assess which biostimulants and practices best boost organic matter, reduce nutrient runoff and volatilization, restore soil bioactivity, and aid carbon sequestration, and must report results to congressional agriculture committees within two years after funds are available.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
EPA must update rules within 120 days
If enacted, the bill would require the EPA Administrator to revise the rules in 40 C.F.R. subchapter E to carry out the FIFRA definition changes. The EPA would have not more than 120 days after enactment to complete those regulatory revisions. This would change regulatory text and affect EPA, product registrants, manufacturers, and agricultural users by altering compliance timing and obligations.
New biostimulant definitions for farms
If enacted, the bill would change legal definitions in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. It would add definitions for plant biostimulant, nutritional chemical, and vitamin hormone product. It would narrow the definition of "plant regulator" to exclude certain nutrients, inoculants, soil amendments, vitamin hormone products, and some biological or similar synthetic biostimulants. If passed, manufacturers, product registrants, farmers, and EPA could classify and regulate many products differently.
USDA study on soil health and biostimulants
If enacted, the bill would direct USDA to study plant biostimulants and practices that improve soil health. The study would look at organic matter, nutrient management, reducing runoff or leaching, restoring soil bioactivity, carbon sequestration, and related outcomes. USDA must publish the results and send a report to the House and Senate agriculture committees within two years after funds are first made available.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/22/2025
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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