The U.S. House passed the Food, Farm and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), or 'Farm Bill 2.0,' with a 224-200 vote, moving the legislation to the Senate.
The bill boosts risk management for farmers, updates conservation programs, and increases loan limits. It now faces a 60-vote threshold in the Senate, where debate over its contents, including changes to animal welfare laws and pesticides, is expected. The bill faces a tough path in the Senate, with debates likely over its funding mechanisms and policy changes Key provisions include enhanced safety nets for farmers, increased credit access, and strict agricultural regulations, alongside significant cuts to SNAP.
Before the vote, Chairman Glenn 'GT'. Thompson (R-PA) made the following remarks on the House floor saying, “It is more evident than ever that rural America needs a new farm bill now — not next year or next Congress. Producers are operating under the third consecutive farm bill extension, and the simple truth is that the policies of 2018 are no match for the challenges of 2026. It is time to get this critical legislation done.”
But some members of the committee felt the farm bill fell short.
“American farmers and working people are struggling to make ends meet,” said Ag Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig of Minnesota. “Whether it’s twice as expensive to fill up your tractor or twice as expensive at the grocery checkout, Americans can feel how tariffs, war with Iran and massive cuts to food assistance are making hard economic times even worse.
“The so-called farm bill that passed the House today does nothing to resolve high input costs, lost markets, surging food prices, or provide a single penny in economic assistance to struggling family farmers.”
Craig added that the bill “falls short” because it perpetuates the $187 billion in nutrition funding cuts Republicans approved in last year’s budget reconciliation package. She also noted that the bill does not address the impact of Trump’s tariff policies on farmers or provide additional farmer assistance. It also cuts the Environmental Quality Incentives Program by $1 billion.
During the committee's 22-hour markup, over 100 amendments were offered and debated, with the 46 adopted split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. It passed committee with strong bipartisan support and the endorsement of more than 500 agricultural stakeholder groups.
Plains Cotton Growers said it appreciates all the Farm Bill 2.0 champions that voted for this vital legislation, which includes the following if enacted:
-Strengthens farm revenue safety nets (ARC/ PLC) and increases USDA loan limits to assist producers with high costs.
-Addresses regulatory certainty in interstate commerce, including measures targeting livestock production standards set by states.
-Contains reforms to the SNAP food assistance program that locks in $187 billion in cuts and expands work requirements for adults aged 18-64 and remove exemptions for veterans, homeless individuals, and foster youth.
-Supports expansion of precision agriculture and focuses on biofuel provisions.
Despite some opposition, a farm bill provision dubbed the “Save Our Bacon Act” remained in the final text. It is intended to nullify state laws like California’s voter-approved Proposition 12, which sets additional standards for animal living conditions. Critics say that the farm bill provision violates state rights and puts more animals at risk of abuse.
“The Save Our Bacon Act is an unprecedented overreach of federal power that would eliminate states’ ability to regulate agriculture and overturn popular animal protection laws, betraying thousands of higher-welfare farmers who have already invested in more humane animal housing systems, and failing American voters and consumers who have no appetite for cruelty,” said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of government relations for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals.
Others in the ag industry offered their comments, including Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation president, who said, ““Farmers and ranchers applaud the House of Representatives for passing a new, modernized farm bill. We appreciate Chairman G.T. Thompson’s leadership to get this done. After three years of extensions and eight years since a farm bill was passed, we’re grateful the House found a bipartisan path forward. Important updates to research and conservation, as well as increased loan limits and clarity on interstate commerce, will help farmers survive today’s challenges and give them the tools to thrive in the future.”
“Instead of caving to attacks on the livestock industry from shell activist groups that impersonate real producers, a bipartisan group of lawmakers advanced a bill that will provide certainty and important policy fixes for cattle country. We look forward to engaging with the Senate to advance this farm bill to the president’s desk,” said Ethan Lane, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association senior vice president of government affairs.