Senate Bill 775 establishes a reimbursement program administered by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to assist corn producers in mitigating damage caused by sandhill cranes. The program allows eligible farmers to receive reimbursements for up to 50% of the cost of seed treatment registered to deter cranes from consuming corn seed, with a maximum reimbursement of $6,250 per farm per year. Eligible applicants must have produced at least $6,000 in gross farm revenues in the previous year and can apply for reimbursement between March 1 and June 15 for seed purchased after November 1 of the prior year. The bill also outlines prioritization for reimbursements based on previous federal permits and documented purchases.

Additionally, the bill creates a new appropriation under section 20.115 (7) (ac) for the sandhill crane damage reimbursement program and increases the budget for the Department of Agriculture by $85,000 for the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support the program's administration. The department is required to compile an annual report detailing the reimbursements requested and issued, and it is granted rule-making authority to establish payment prioritization and determine eligibility criteria. The act will take effect four months after publication.