S 904 — Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2025
Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S1607-1609)
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 06, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
LowHow often bills like it became law.
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In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
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2 sponsors
1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (1 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2025This bill expands access to Department of Agriculture disaster assistance programs and requires increased interagency cooperation in drought-related activities.The bill specifies that state and federal grazing permit holders are eligible for the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program. Further, emergency measures eligible for payments include new permanent measures, such as permanent water wells and pipelines. The bill also waives the 30-day comment period required for applications under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for emergency measures carried out during a drought emergency.Modifications to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program allow for one monthly payment when a county has four consecutive weeks of a D2 rating (severe drought) and two payments for eight consecutive weeks of D2. Currently, one payment is available for eight consecutive weeks of D2.The bill expands coverage for producers under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) to include losses caused by drought. The bill also specifies that covered losses include transportation costs related to feed or water shortages. Further, the bill requires the ELAP payment rate for honey bee producers to incorporate additional factors, such as per-hive and per-colony rates of loss.The USDA must establish an interagency working group to improve the consistency and accuracy of U.S. Drought Monitor data.Finally, the Farm Service Agency and the Forest Service must enter into a memorandum of understanding to better align their drought response activities.
Bill Text
- Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html March 06, 2025
Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.
The bill amends existing laws regarding disaster assistance programs to expand eligibility and streamline processes for agricultural producers and emergency measures.
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16 U.S.C. 2202b
The maximum payment made under the emergency conservation program to an agricultural producer under sections 2201 and 2202 of this title shall not exceed $500,000.→ The maximum payment under the emergency conservation program shall not exceed $500,000, as determined by the Secretary, for any single event.Caps the maximum payment under the emergency conservation program, affirming it remains at $500,000 per event but clarifies it is determined by the Secretary.
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16 U.S.C. 2206
with respect to Federal land, a person that holds a permit from the Federal Government to conduct agricultural production or grazing on the Federal land; and with respect to land owned by a State or a unit of local government, a person that leases land from the State or unit of local government to conduct agricultural production or grazing on that land.
Expands the definition of eligible entities to include those who lease land from state or local governments for agricultural production.
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16 U.S.C. 2206
Emergency measures eligible for payments under sections 401 and 402 include new permanent measures, including permanent water wells and pipelines; and replacement or restoration of existing emergency measures with permanent measures, including permanent water wells and pipelines.
Broadens the scope of emergency measures to include permanent installations needed for agricultural production.
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16 U.S.C. 2206
During a drought emergency, as determined by the Secretary, the 30-day public comment period required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall be waived with respect to an application to carry out emergency measures under this section.
Streamlines the application process during drought emergencies by waiving the public comment period.
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16 U.S.C. 2206
The Secretary may accept an archeological review conducted by the Secretary of the Interior for purposes of an archeological review required to be conducted.
Allows acceptance of NRCS reviews to expedite the emergency measures application process.
Action History
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Introduced in Senate
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S1607-1609)
Sponsors
- John Thune · Primary
- Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 545 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Thune, John Republican
Co-sponsors (1)
- Luján, Ben Ray Democratic
Not signed on (545)
545 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 545 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 904 do?
- Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2025This bill expands access to Department of Agriculture disaster assistance programs and requires increased interagency cooperation in drought-related activities.The bill specifies that state and federal grazing permit holders are eligible for the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program. Further, emergency measures eligible for payments include new permanent measures, such as permanent water wells and pipelines. The bill also waives the 30-day comment period required for applications under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for emergency measures carried out during a drought emergency.Modifications to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program allow for one monthly payment when a county has four consecutive weeks of a D2 rating (severe drought) and two payments for eight consecutive weeks of D2. Currently, one payment is available for eight consecutive weeks of D2.The bill expands coverage for producers under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) to include losses caused by drought. The bill also specifies that covered losses include transportation costs related to feed or water shortages. Further, the bill requires the ELAP payment rate for honey bee producers to incorporate additional factors, such as per-hive and per-colony rates of loss.The USDA must establish an interagency working group to improve the consistency and accuracy of U.S. Drought Monitor data.Finally, the Farm Service Agency and the Forest Service must enter into a memorandum of understanding to better align their drought response activities.
- Who sponsors S 904?
- S 904 is sponsored by Thune, John (Republican) and Luján, Ben Ray (Democratic).
- What is the current status of S 904?
- This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 06, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track S 904?
- Track S 904 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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