US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

16 U.S.C. § 3861

Establishment of State technical committees

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary shall establish a technical committee in each State to assist the Secretary in the considerations relating to implementation and technical aspects of the conservation programs under this chapter.

(b)

Standards

The Secretary shall review and update as necessary—
(1)
standard operating procedures to standardize the operations of State technical committees; and
(2)
standards to be used by State technical committees in the development of technical guidelines for the implementation of the conservation provisions of this chapter.
(c)

Composition

Each State technical committee shall be composed of agricultural producers and other professionals that represent a variety of disciplines in the soil, water, wetland, and wildlife sciences. The technical committee for a State shall include representatives from among the following:
(1)
The Natural Resources Conservation Service.
(2)
The Farm Service Agency.
(3)
The Forest Service.
(4)
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
(5)
The State fish and wildlife agency.
(6)
The State forester or equivalent State official.
(7)
The State water resources agency.
(8)
The State department of agriculture.
(9)
The State association of soil and water conservation districts.
(10)
Agricultural producers representing the variety of crops and livestock or poultry raised within the State.
(11)
Owners of nonindustrial private forest land.
(12)
section 501(c)(3) of title 26 Nonprofit organizations within the meaning of with demonstrable conservation expertise and experience working with agriculture producers in the State.
(13)
Agribusiness.
(14)
The State Cooperative Extension Service and land grant university in the State.

Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1261Pub. L. 101–624, title XIV, § 1446104 Stat. 3604Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 342(a)110 Stat. 1009Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2711122 Stat. 1083Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2607128 Stat. 760Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2822132 Stat. 4603(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , title VII, § 7511(c)(38), , , 1271; , title II, § 2711, title VII, § 7511(c)(38), , , 1811, 2032; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 99–198section 2005a of this titlesection 1981 of Title 7This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(2), was in the original “this title”, meaning title XII of , which enacted this chapter and former and amended sections 590g, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009 of this title, sections 4207 and 4209 of Title 7, Agriculture, and provisions set out as a note under .

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246 and made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by were repealed by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–334, § 2822(a)section 3862(b) of this title2018—Subsec. (b)(2). , struck out “under ” after “technical guidelines”.

Pub. L. 115–334, § 2822(b)Subsec. (c)(14). , added par. (14).

Pub. L. 113–792014—Subsec. (b). , in introductory provisions, substituted “The Secretary shall review and update as necessary” for “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary shall develop”.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 2711section 3862(b) of this title2008—, which directed the general amendment of section 1261 of the “Farm Security Act of 1985”, was executed by making the amendment to this section, which is section 1261 of the Food Security Act of 1985, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Prior to amendment, section related to the establishment in each State of a technical committee to assist the Secretary in the technical considerations relating to implementation of conservation provisions under this chapter, composition of each such committee, and development of standards to be used in the development of guidelines under former .

Pub. L. 110–246, § 7511(c)(38)Pub. L. 110–246, § 2711Subsec. (c)(4). , which directed amendment of par. (4) by substituting “National Institute of Food and Agriculture” for “Extension Service”, could not be executed because “Extension Service” did not appear subsequent to amendment by . See above.

Pub. L. 104–1271996—Subsec. (c)(9) to (12). added pars. (9) to (12).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of Title 7Amendment of this section and repeal of by effective , the date of enactment of , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Agriculture.

section 7511(c)(38) of Pub. L. 110–246section 7511(c) of Pub. L. 110–246section 1522 of Title 7Amendment by effective , see , set out as a note under , Agriculture.