Skip to main content
HR 4227 96th Congress House Agriculture and Food Administrative procedure Advisory bodies Agricultural policies Agricultural research Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture Farm lands Farms Federal advisory bodies Government Operations and Politics Research and development Rural affairs legislation

Agricultural Land Protection Act

Introduced: May 24, 1979 Introduced by: Grassley, Chuck Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 96th Congress ended
It never became law before the 96th Congress (1979–1980) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 24, 1979
Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
May 24, 1979
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Agricultural Land Protection Act - Title I: Federal Agency Compliance - Requires the interpretation and administration of the policies, regulations, and public laws of the United States in accordance with a recognition of the rights and responsibilities of private landholders in making land use decisions, and the rights and responsibilities of State and local governments in developing public policies regarding non-Federal land use. Directs Federal agencies to consider the retention of agricultural land for agricultural purposes when they make decisions which impact directly or indirectly on private and State and local government public land, as well as on Federal land. Requires all such Federal agencies to review their administrative procedures, especially those regarding land acquisition and management, in order to bring them into conformity with the policies and purposes of this Title.

Title II: Study of Protection of Agricultural Land - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture in coordination and cooperation with colleges and universities to conduct a study of: (1) agricultural land in the United States; (2) the effects of industrial development, climate and other factors on the productivity of such land; (3) the effects of Federal, State, and local government policies, laws, and regulations on the use of such land; (4) the acquisition of such land by persons not engaged in agricultural activities; (5) methods of protecting and improving such land, and of reducing the amount of it being converted to nonagricultural uses; and (6) ways of reaffirming and protecting the principles of individual property ownership and property rights in agricultural land in the policies, programs, and actions of governments at all levels. Requires a preliminary report within two years after enactment, and a final report to the President and Congress within four years after the preliminary report.

Authorizes the Secretary to establish an Agricultural Land Protection Advisory Committee to consult with him concerning such study.

Requires the study to emphasize the analysis of already existing data. Requires that any agricultural land protection technical assistance to the States consist of services other than direct financial assistance. Establishes an Agricultural Land Protection Information Clearinghouse Network.

Title III: Technical Assistance Program - Directs the Secretary, acting through the Soil Conservation Service, to provide States and local governments with technical assistance concerning methods of protecting agricultural land and reducing the quantity of such land being converted from agricultural to nonagricultural uses.

Title IV: General Provisions - Defines terms used in this Act.

What's happening now May 24, 1979

Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4227: Agricultural Land Protection Act. 96th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-4227/
MLA
"H.R. 4227: Agricultural Land Protection Act." 96th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-4227/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4227, 96th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-4227/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4227: Agricultural Land Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-4227/)
Report a problem