LPDD Model Law: State Healthy Soils Legislation

This model legal document prepared by the LPDD team surveys the chief provisions a state may consider including in “healthy soils” (HS) legislation. It takes a menu approach in providing options for states to choose from.  Many provisions on the menu are adapted from existing state-level HS legislation and programs, including programs for producer education and technical assistance, research and monitoring, upfront payments for conservation practices, grant programs with scoring criteria, outcome-based programs, and funding mechanisms. Appendix A includes a chart summarizing the status and key provisions of existing state-level HS legislation across the United States.

The model document also identifies other key issues not addressed in existing state-level HS legislation, including various ways to structure financial incentives; ensuring access to viable markets; innovative funding mechanisms; and managing expectations related to the evolving science on decarbonization in the agricultural sector.