H.R. 6944

119 HR 6944 IH: To require the Secretary of Agriculture to make cost-share grants for retrofitting agricultural tractors with rollover protection structures, and for other purposes.
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-01-06
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 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.
 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 6944  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   January 6, 2026   Mr. Feenstra  (for himself,  Mr. Riley of New York ,  Mr. Finstad , and  Mr. Davis of North Carolina ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Agriculture    A BILL
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to make cost-share grants for retrofitting agricultural tractors with rollover protection structures, and for other purposes.
1.
Cost-share grants for rollover protection structures
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Approved rollover protection structure
The term  approved rollover protection structure  means a rollover protection structure that the Program Administrator determines—
(A)
may be installed on eligible equipment;
(B)
includes a seatbelt; and
(C)
meets or exceeds the rollover protection structure standards.
(2)
Eligible entity
The term  eligible entity  means, as determined by the Secretary—
(A)
an agricultural producer  ; and
(B)
an eligible school.
(3)
Eligible equipment
The term  eligible equipment  means an agricultural tractor that the Program Administrator determines to be eligible for installation of an approved rollover protection structure.
(4)
Eligible school
The term  eligible school  means—
(A)
a vocational school that provides agricultural instruction or training;
(B)
an institution of higher education(as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 ))that provides direct, practical agricultural instruction or training; and
(C)
a public or private secondary school (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 8107 )) the curriculum of which includes an agricultural instruction or training component.
(5)
Program Administrator
The term  Program Administrator  means the organization selected by the Secretary under subsection (c)(1)(B).
(6)
Rollover protection structure standards
The term  rollover protection structure standards  includes the following:
(A)
The SAE J2194 and SAE J1194 standards issued by the Society of Automotive Engineers (and successor standards).
(B)
Any other relevant national or international rollover protection structure manufacturing or testing standards.
(7)
Secretary
The term  Secretary  means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(b)
Cost-share grants
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities for the cost of purchasing, transporting, and installing on eligible equipment approved rollover protection structures.
(2)
Limitations
(A)
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amount of a grant under this section shall equal 70 percent of the costs of the eligible entity to purchase, transport, and install the approved rollover protection structure.
(B)
Exception
If, for an eligible entity that is the recipient of a grant under this section, the costs to purchase, transport, and install an approved rollover structure (as documented by the eligible entity) exceed $500, the amount of the grant shall be increased to cover an increased percentage (as determined by the Secretary) of such costs.
(c)
Administration
(1)
Program Administrator
The Secretary shall—
(A)
seek competitive bids from nongovernmental organizations seeking to serve as the Program Administrator under this section;
(B)
select 1 organization from among the organizations that submit bids under subparagraph (A); and
(C)
enter into a cooperative agreement with that organization to carry out the activities described in paragraph (2).
(2)
Duties
The Program Administrator shall—
(A)
identify—
(i)
approved rollover protection structures; and
(ii)
eligible equipment;
(B)
administer the application process under subsection (d); and
(C)
establish and administer a public website and phone hotline with information necessary—
(i)
to inform eligible entities, as described in subsection (a)(2), of the grant opportunities made available by this act, and
(ii)
to administer the application process under subsection (d).
(d)
Applications
(1)
In general
To apply for a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Program Administrator an application, including documentation of the cost described in subsection (b)(2)(A).
(2)
Approval or denial
On receipt of an application under paragraph (1), the Program Administrator shall—
(A)
determine—
(i)
whether the applicant is eligible for a grant under this section; and
(ii)
the amount of a grant under this section for which the applicant is eligible; and
(B)
submit to the Secretary a notification of the determinations under subparagraph (A).
(e)
Disbursement
On receipt of a notification under subsection (d)(2)(B), if an applicant is eligible for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall disburse to the eligible entity the amount of the grant described in subsection (d)(2)(A)(ii).
(f)
Funding
(1)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $725,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
(2)
Allocation
Of the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year—
(A)
the Secretary shall use $500,000 for grants under this section; and
(B)
the Secretary shall transfer to the Program Administrator—
(i)
$125,000 for the promotion of, and upgrades to the website referred to in subsection (c)(2)(C); and
(ii)
$100,000 for the telephone hotline referred to in such subsection.