An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program, further providing for definitions and for powers, duties and administration.

PRINTER'S NO. 2143
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1741
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MIHALEK, BENHAM AND METZGAR, JULY 15, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
JULY 16, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), entitled
"An act relating to the finances of the State government;
providing for cancer control, prevention and research, for
ambulatory surgical center data collection, for the Joint
Underwriting Association, for entertainment business
financial management firms, for private dam financial
assurance and for reinstatement of item vetoes; providing for
the settlement, assessment, collection, and lien of taxes,
bonus, and all other accounts due the Commonwealth, the
collection and recovery of fees and other money or property
due or belonging to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof,
including escheated property and the proceeds of its sale,
the custody and disbursement or other disposition of funds
and securities belonging to or in the possession of the
Commonwealth, and the settlement of claims against the
Commonwealth, the resettlement of accounts and appeals to the
courts, refunds of moneys erroneously paid to the
Commonwealth, auditing the accounts of the Commonwealth and
all agencies thereof, of all public officers collecting
moneys payable to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof,
and all receipts of appropriations from the Commonwealth,
authorizing the Commonwealth to issue tax anticipation notes
to defray current expenses, implementing the provisions of
section 7(a) of Article VIII of the Constitution of
Pennsylvania authorizing and restricting the incurring of
certain debt and imposing penalties; affecting every
department, board, commission, and officer of the State
government, every political subdivision of the State, and
certain officers of such subdivisions, every person,
association, and corporation required to pay, assess, or
collect taxes, or to make returns or reports under the laws
imposing taxes for State purposes, or to pay license fees or
other moneys to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof,
every State depository and every debtor or creditor of the
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Commonwealth," in Agriculture Conservation Assistance
Program, further providing for definitions and for powers,
duties and administration.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "best management practice" or
"BMP" in section 1601-R of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343,
No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, is amended and the section is
amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 1601-R. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Best management practice" or "BMP." A practice or
combination of practices determined by the commission or United
States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation
Service to be effective and practical, considering
technological, economic and institutional factors, to manage
nutrients and sediment to protect surface water and groundwater.
The term includes the use of cover crops.
* * *
"Cover crop." A crop grown primarily for the purpose of
controlling erosion, suppressing weeds, reducing soil
compaction, increasing moisture and nutrient content of soil,
improving yield potential, attracting pollinators or providing
habitat for beneficial insects and wildlife as well as
supplemental food for animals, including certain grasses, small
grains and legumes.
"Cover crop project." A best management practice in which
cover crops are used.
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* * *
Section 2. Section 1604-R(e) of the act is amended by adding
a paragraph to read:
Section 1604-R. Powers, duties and administration.
* * *
(e) Powers and duties of participating conservation
districts.--The following shall apply:
* * *
(2.1) (i) Except as provided under subparagraph (ii),
no less than 15% of the amount apportioned to each
conservation district shall be awarded for cover crop
projects.
(ii) If a conservation district receives complete
applications for cover crop projects in amounts less than
the amount under subparagraph (i), the conservation
district may allocate the remaining amount to other best
management practices.
* * *
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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