# 119-s-2500: Research for Healthy Soils Act

119-s-2500, Research for Healthy Soils Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2500
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2500
- Congress: 119
- Title: Research for Healthy Soils Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-07-29
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Agriculture and Food
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**This bill would create a new microplastics research and extension program** aimed at studying plastic particles in land-applied biosolids on farmland. It would also extend authority for related high-priority research and extension initiatives through 2031. - Farmers and landowners: Would fund studies on how microplastics (plastic particles under 5 millimeters) in biosolids affect crops and soil health, giving farmers clearer evidence about biosolids use. - Researchers and universities: Would make grants available for surveys and data collection on microplastic concentration, particle size, and chemical composition in land-applied biosolids. - Wastewater treatment developers and utilities: Would support development or analysis of treatment techniques to filter out or biodegrade microplastics from biosolids intended for agricultural use. - Policymakers and regulators: Would generate research on the fate, residence time, and transport of microplastics on farmland to inform future guidance.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Extend high-priority farm research to 2031: benefit, low. This bill would extend the legal authorization for certain high-priority agricultural research and extension initiatives to 2031. If enacted, researchers and extension programs could continue to receive grants under the cited authority through 2031. The change updates the authorization date but doe…
- More microplastics research for farms: benefit, low. This bill would authorize research and extension grants to study microplastics in biosolids used on farmland. Microplastics are defined as plastic or plastic-coated particles under 5 millimeters. Grants could fund surveys, treatment development, crop and soil impact studies, and research on micropl…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act
- 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act
- 119-s-2231: GLOBE Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-2500 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2500)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763)
- [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869)
- [119-s-2231: GLOBE Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2231)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2500 (as of 2026-04-21).