To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to repeal certain provisions relating to the acceptance and use of contributions for public-private partnerships, and for other purposes.

HR773, introduced by Rep. Hageman, repeals the SUSTAINS Act, which allowed the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to accept and use contributions for public-private partnerships. This action directly removes a mechanism for private entities to fund and participate in agricultural conservation efforts. While the bill permits NRCS to continue accepting nonfederal funds for programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), it specifically targets and eliminates the broader public-private partnership framework established by SUSTAINS. This means less capital flowing into specific, jointly-funded conservation projects. The money trail for public-private partnerships under SUSTAINS involved private companies and organizations contributing funds directly to NRCS for specific conservation initiatives. These funds supplemented federal appropriations, expanding the scope and scale of projects. With the repeal, this direct funding channel closes. Companies that previously engaged in or planned to engage in these partnerships, particularly those focused on agricultural sustainability solutions, will see reduced opportunities for collaboration and funding through this specific mechanism. The bill does not appropriate new funds, but rather removes a previous funding pathway. Historically, shifts in USDA funding mechanisms have directly impacted agricultural service providers. For example, when the 2014 Farm Bill significantly reauthorized and reformed conservation programs, companies providing environmental consulting, land management services, and agricultural technology saw shifts in demand based on program priorities. While not a direct repeal of a funding source, the elimination of the SUSTAINS Act's public-private partnership structure mirrors a reduction in available capital for specific types of conservation projects. There is no direct historical precedent for the repeal of the SUSTAINS Act itself, as it was enacted recently in 2023. However, any reduction in funding avenues for conservation generally leads to decreased activity in related service sectors. Specific winners and losers are difficult to pinpoint without knowing the exact private entities that were leveraging the SUSTAINS Act partnerships. However, companies involved in providing agricultural sustainability solutions, environmental consulting for farms, and land management services that relied on or planned to rely on these public-private partnerships will experience a loss of a funding avenue. There are no clear winners from this repeal; it primarily removes a specific funding mechanism. The bill is currently referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology. Rep. Hageman, as a junior member, indicates lower initial legislative momentum, but subcommittee referral means it is under active consideration. What happens next is that the bill will be reviewed by the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology. If it passes the subcommittee, it moves to the full House Agriculture Committee. The timeline for this process is uncertain, but a bill referred to a subcommittee on February 28, 2025, indicates it is in the early stages of the legislative process.