EDUCATE Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9344 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9344

 To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
  Policy Act of 1977, to provide for marijuana agricultural research
         program at 1890 institutions, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 18, 2026

  Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself and Ms. Titus) introduced the
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
  Policy Act of 1977, to provide for marijuana agricultural research
         program at 1890 institutions, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Establishing and Developing
University Cannabis Agriculture Techniques and Excellence Act of 2026''
or the ``EDUCATE Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. MARIJUANA RESEARCH AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS.

    The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:

         ``Subtitle P--Marijuana Research at 1890 Institutions

``SEC. 1492. MARIJUANA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROGRAM AT 1890
              INSTITUTIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (in this subtitle
referred to as the `Secretary'), shall establish a program under which
the Secretary will award, on a competitive basis grants to authorized
institutions to conduct research on the cultivation (including
agronomic best practices) and processing of marijuana. Such research
may include research on the following topics:
            ``(1) The optimization of cultivation and harvesting
        practices for marijuana crops.
            ``(2) The examination of soil health, water conservation,
        pest management, and sustainability impacts of marijuana
        agriculture.
            ``(3) The evaluation of economic development opportunities
        for minority and disadvantaged farmers in emerging marijuana
        markets.
            ``(4) Workforce development, training, and extension
        activities related to marijuana agriculture.
    ``(b) Application.--An authorized institution seeking a grant under
this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require, including documentation of the registration of the institution
as described in section 1492D(2).
    ``(c) Selection of Grantees.--In selecting authorized institutions
to receive a grant under this section, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) give priority to institutions that have partnerships
        with minority and small-scale farmers or community-based
        agricultural organizations; and
            ``(2) ensure an equitable distribution of grant funds among
        such institutions.
    ``(d) Condition.--An authorized institution receiving a grant under
this section shall agree, as a condition on receipt of such grant, to
coordinate with the Secretary and other Federal agencies to ensure
compliance with applicable Federal laws relating to the possession,
handling, study, or other research activity involving marijuana.
    ``(e) Funding.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
        to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for
        each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
            ``(2) Reservation of funds.--Of the funds made available
        under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall
        reserve not less than 25 percent to award grants to authorized
        institutions that are Hispanic-serving institutions.

``SEC. 1492A. MARIJUANA AGRICULTURE STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program (to be
known as the Marijuana Agriculture Studies Scholarship Program) under
which the Secretary will award grants to authorized institutions for
purposes of awarding scholarships to individuals who--
            ``(1)(A) have been accepted for admission at such
        institution and will be enrolled full-time at such institution
        in an undergraduate or graduate program in the food and
        agricultural sciences not later than one year after the date of
        such acceptance; or
            ``(B) are enrolled full-time at such institution in such an
        undergraduate or graduate program; and
            ``(2) intend to pursue, or are pursuing a career in
        marijuana or hemp agriculture, marijuana cultivation, plant
        science, agricultural technology, agricultural science, or
        agricultural policy.
    ``(b) Application.--An authorized institution seeking a grant under
this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require, including documentation of the registration of the institution
as described in section 1492D(2).
    ``(c) Maximum Amounts.--
            ``(1) Scholarship amount.--The amount of a scholarship
        awarded pursuant to this section shall not exceed $10,000 per
        student, per academic year.
            ``(2) Grant amount.--Of the funds made available under
        subsection (c), the Secretary may use not more than $100,000 to
        award grants under this subsection for the academic year
        beginning on July 1, 2027, and each succeeding academic year
        for which such funds remain available.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.

``SEC. 1492B. REPORTING.

    ``Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
subtitle, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a
report describing--
            ``(1) grants awarded under the program established under
        section 1492;
            ``(2) the outcomes and findings of research conducted
        pursuant to such section; and
            ``(3) the participation in the scholarship program under
        section 1492A and outcomes of such program.

``SEC. 1492C. NONDISCRIMINATION; SAFE HARBOR; RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    ``(a) No Denial of Federal Benefit.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, an institution of higher education, faculty member,
researcher, employee, or student that receives funding under, conducts
research pursuant to, or participates in a program or activity
authorized by, this Act shall not be denied any Federal benefit, grant,
or contract, solely because of the cultivation, possession, handling,
study, or other research activity involving marijuana conducted in
accordance with this Act.
    ``(b) No Federal Prosecution or Civil Penalties for Allowed
Conduct.--An individual or entity who receives funding under, conducts
research pursuant to, or participates in a program or activity
authorized by this Act shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or
civil or administrative penalties under Federal law relating to that
receipt of funding, research, or participation so long as the
individual or entity, in receiving such funds, conducting such
research, or participating in such a program or activity is acting
within the scope of the applicable registration under section 303 of
the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) and such other
requirements as may be imposed by the Secretary under this Act.

``SEC. 1492D. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this Act:
            ``(1) The term `1890 Institution' has the meaning given
        such term in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension,
        and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).
            ``(2) The term `authorized institution' means a covered
        institution that, as of the date on which the institution
        submits an application under section 1492 or 1492A (as
        applicable), has a registration in effect under section 303 of
        the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) to conduct
        research with marijuana.
            ``(3) The term `marijuana' has the meaning given such term
        in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C.
        802).
            ``(4) The term `covered institution' means--
                    ``(A) an 1890 Institution;
                    ``(B) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in
                section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
                U.S.C. 1101a)); and
                    ``(C) a part B institution (as defined in section
                322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
                1061)) that--
                            ``(i) is not an 1890 Institution; and
                            ``(ii) has an accredited program offering
                        education in the food and agricultural
                        sciences.''.
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