Farm Bill Debate Shifts to Senate Following House Passage
Published Friday, May 8, 2026
Work continues in the Senate on the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, also known as the 2026 Farm Bill, following last week’s passage of the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. As previously reported, the House approved the farm bill on a 224-200 bipartisan vote, with support from California U.S. Reps. Adam Gray, D-Merced, and Jim Costa, D-Fresno, as well as the state’s Republican delegation. The bill marked the first full farm bill reauthorization to pass the House since 2018.
Attention has now shifted to the Senate, where lawmakers will need at least 60 votes to advance the measure. Early public comments and ongoing negotiations suggest the House version is unlikely to pass the Senate without revisions. Changes made to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program remain a key point of disagreement for many Democratic senators, while some Republican members have also indicated interest in additional modifications.
The House version removed a controversial pesticide labeling provision while retaining language aimed at limiting the impacts of California’s Proposition 12, also known as the farm animal confinement initiative. California Farm Bureau continues to engage with California’s congressional delegation and national partners as discussions move forward in the Senate and will continue updating members as negotiations progress.
Staff contact: Erin Huston, ehuston@cfbf.com.
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