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H.R. 1618

U.S. House•In Senate Committee

Summary

H.R. 1618, the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act, was introduced in the House on Feb 26, 2025 by Rep. Robert Latta (R) with 2 co-sponsors. It was referred to Commerce, Science, And Transportation, and last saw action on Jul 15, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Record

Text

H.R. 1618 has 2 co-sponsors.

hb1618/engrossed-in-house.txt
119 HR 1618 EH: Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 IB
 119th CONGRESS  1st Session
 H. R. 1618
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 AN ACT
To require the Federal Communications Commission to review certain rules of the Commission and develop recommendations for rule changes to promote precision agriculture, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act  .
2.
Precision agriculture satellite connectivity
(a)
Review
The Commission shall—
(1)
review the rules of the Commission relating to fixed satellite service, mobile satellite service, and earth exploration satellite service to determine if there are rule changes that the Commission could implement under existing authority to promote precision agriculture; and
(2)
if the Commission determines under paragraph (1) that there are rule changes that the Commission could implement, develop recommendations for how to implement the changes.
(b)
Report
Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the review conducted under subsection (a), including any recommendations developed under paragraph (2) of such subsection.
(c)
Commission defined
In this section, the term  Commission  means the Federal Communications Commission.
    Passed the House of Representatives July 14, 2025.  Kevin F. McCumber,  Clerk.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-02-26
  2. Passed House2025-07-14
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House Feb 26, 2025

hb1618/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (02/26/2025)

Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review and recommend changes to its satellite rules to promote precision agriculture. Precision agriculture is a general term describing various crop management tools and practices that leverage technology like Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and uncrewed aircraft systems (commonly known as drones) to optimize production and sustainability.

In conducting its review, the FCC must consult with the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture, which advises the FCC on methods to assess and advance broadband internet on unserved agricultural land and promote precision agriculture.

Sponsors

Rep. Robert Latta (R) sponsors H.R. 1618, and 2 members have co-sponsored it, 1 of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 1618 went before 2 committees: Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Energy and Commerce.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Referred To · Jul 15, 2025 · 458 Bills
Energy and Commerce
Energy and Commerce
Reported By · Jul 10, 2025 · 1,636 Bills

Reports

1 committee report has been filed on H.R. 1618, the latest H. Rept. 119-195.

Actions

H.R. 1618 has taken 13 actions since Feb 26, 2025, the latest on Jul 15, 2025.

ChamberAction
Jul 15, 2025
Senate
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Jul 14, 202515:09
House
Mr. Latta moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 14, 202515:09
House
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3211-3212)
Jul 14, 202515:09
House
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1618.
Jul 14, 202515:15
House
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3211)

Votes

H.R. 1618 has not gone to a roll call.

1 bill is related to H.R. 1618.

Titles

H.R. 1618 goes by 7 titles, 4 of them short titles.

  • To require the Federal Communications Commission to review certain rules of the Commission and develop recommendations for rule changes to promote precision agriculture, and for other purposes. — Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text
  • Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act — Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
  • Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act — Short Title(s) as Passed House
  • Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act — Short Title(s) as Reported to House
  • Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act — Display Title
  • Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • To require the Federal Communications Commission to review certain rules of the Commission and develop recommendations for rule changes to promote precision agriculture, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced

Cost estimate

The Congressional Budget Office has filed 1 estimate for H.R. 1618, the latest on Apr 21, 2025.

Lobbying

4 clients hired 4 firms and 31 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 1618 in 20 quarterly filings, 2025 to 2026. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.

Filed under Telecommunications, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, Agriculture, Budget/Appropriations, Transportation, Natural Resources, Real Estate/Land Use/Conservation, Animals.

Clients

Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.

ClientBusinessStateFirmsFilingsReported
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FED—District of Columbia17—
COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION—District of Columbia16—
GPS INNOVATION ALLIANCE—District of Columbia15—
NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATION—District of Columbia12—

Firms

Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.

RegistrantClientsFilingsReported
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FED17—
COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION16—
GPS INNOVATION ALLIANCE15—
NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATION12—

Lobbyists

Named on the filings that cite the bill. The 20 named most often, of 31.

LobbyistFirmsClientsFilings
COURTNEY BRIGGS117
DAVID SALMONSEN117
JOHNIE BOATRIGHT117
RUDOLPH LAYHER117
RYAN YATES117
SHELBY HAGENAUER117
TRAVIS CUSHMAN117
BRIAN GLENN116
EMERALD LITKE-SMITH116
MARIBETH COLLINS116
TIMOTHY DONOVAN116
LISA DYER115
AUTUMN LANKFORD114
CODY LYON114
JOHN HOWES114
JOHN NEWTON114
EMILY BUCKMAN113
SAMUEL KIEFFER113
BROOKE DONILON112
CLIFFORD RICCIO112

Filings

The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.

ClientRegistrantPeriodReportedDocument
NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATIONNCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATION2025 first_quarter$3.2M1st Quarter - Report
NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATIONNCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATION2025 second_quarter$3.1M2nd Quarter - Report
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDAMERICAN FARM BUREAU FED2025 second_quarter$340K2nd Quarter - Report
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDAMERICAN FARM BUREAU FED2025 first_quarter$320K1st Quarter - Report
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDAMERICAN FARM BUREAU FED2026 second_quarter$293.8K2nd Quarter - Amendme…
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDAMERICAN FARM BUREAU FED2026 first_quarter$290K1st Quarter - Report
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDAMERICAN FARM BUREAU FED2025 third_quarter$270K3rd Quarter - Report
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDAMERICAN FARM BUREAU FED2025 fourth_quarter$250K4th Quarter - Report
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDAMERICAN FARM BUREAU FED2026 second_quarter$176.6K2nd Quarter - Report
COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATIONCOMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION2026 second_quarter$170K2nd Quarter - Report
COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATIONCOMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION2025 third_quarter$160K3rd Quarter - Report
COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATIONCOMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION2025 second_quarter$160K2nd Quarter - Report
COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATIONCOMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION2025 first_quarter$160K1st Quarter - Report
COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATIONCOMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION2026 first_quarter$150K1st Quarter - Report
COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATIONCOMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION2025 fourth_quarter$150K4th Quarter - Report
GPS INNOVATION ALLIANCEGPS INNOVATION ALLIANCE2025 third_quarter$70K3rd Quarter - Report
GPS INNOVATION ALLIANCEGPS INNOVATION ALLIANCE2026 second_quarter$60K2nd Quarter - Report
GPS INNOVATION ALLIANCEGPS INNOVATION ALLIANCE2025 second_quarter$30.2K2nd Quarter - Report
GPS INNOVATION ALLIANCEGPS INNOVATION ALLIANCE2026 first_quarter$10K1st Quarter - Report
GPS INNOVATION ALLIANCEGPS INNOVATION ALLIANCE2025 fourth_quarter—4th Quarter - Report

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 1618 under Science, Technology, Communications, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 5 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 1618’s is Science, Technology, Communications.

hr1618/policy-areas.txt
Science, Technology, CommunicationsAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 1618 carries 5 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Agricultural practices and innovations to Spacecraft and satellites.

hr1618/subjects.txt
Agricultural practices and innovationsAgricultural researchCongressional oversightInternet, web applications, social mediaSpacecraft and satellites

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 1618, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. LATTA:H.R. 1618.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8, Clause 18:The Congress shall have Power to make all Laws which shallbe necessary and proper for carrying into Executive theforegoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by thisConstitution in the Government of the United States, or inany Department or Officer thereof.[Page H880]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com