SCALE Act of 2026

Grants for State and Tribal Soil Health

If enacted, the Secretary of Agriculture would create a State and Tribal Soil Health and Wildlife Habitat Grant Program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The program would get $50 million each year (about $250 million total). Grants would go to eligible States and Indian Tribes to improve soil health and wildlife habitat on agricultural land. Individual grants could not exceed $10 million per recipient per fiscal year and would run for five years and could be renewed. USDA could use up to 3% of program funds for administration and recipients could use up to 7% of each grant for administration. States would need to match federal funds dollar-for-dollar; if a State provides less, the federal share would match the State's committed amount. Applications would need performance measures, a supplement-not-supplant assurance, and recipients would submit annual audits. The Secretary would have to award grants within 180 days after enactment. Grants could not be conditioned on Department directives or require changes to existing State or local soil health programs, and the Secretary could disqualify recipients for noncompliance.