# 119-s-629: Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025

119-s-629, Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] (R-NE); status became_law; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-02).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-629
- As of: 2026-08-02
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-629
- Congress: 119
- Title: Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2025-02-19
- Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] (R-NE)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Agriculture and Food
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-02

## Summary

**Upfront advance payments speed and broaden emergency conservation and wildfire recovery assistance.** The law lets the Secretary authorize advance payments and adjusts cost shares so farmers and forest owners can begin replacement or restoration work faster, while expanding which wildfire damages qualify and setting a 180-day spending window. - Farmers and ranchers can access earlier cash for damaged farmland and conservation structures, easing immediate repair or replacement needs. - Nonindustrial private forest landowners may receive up to 75% of emergency restoration costs before work starts and must return any unspent funds if not used within 180 days. - Program rules standardize a 180-day expenditure period, allow up-front advances capped at 75% as set by the Secretary, and broaden wildfire eligibility to include certain non-natural and federally caused fires.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-02-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-02-19T00:00:00.000Z

## Votes

| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yea | Nay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass | Passed | 368 | 19 |

## Provisions PRIA read

- Advance payments for farm repairs: benefit, medium. Farm producers can get advance cash before fixing or replacing damaged land or structures. For replacements, USDA can pay up to 75% of the replacement cost up front. For repairs or restorations, USDA can pay up to 50% up front. You have 180 days to spend the funds or return unspent money under prog…
- Upfront cash for forest recovery: benefit, medium. Owners of nonindustrial private forest land can get advance cash for emergency work. USDA can pay up to 75% of the cost before work starts. You must spend the money within 180 days or return unspent funds. Wildfire coverage now includes some fires that spread due to natural causes and fires caused…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026
- 119-s-3940: Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development Act
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-s-1261: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-629 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/629)

## Related
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4949)
- [119-s-3940: Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3940)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1816)
- [119-s-1261: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1261)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-629 (as of 2026-08-02).