Farm bill passes House + Ag-FDA funding bill advances with moderated cuts

A news briefing from Farm Action’s policy team

What happened: The House of Representatives passed the 2026 Farm Bill in a 224–200 vote following a contentious floor process marked by debates over nutrition spending, pesticide policy, and federal preemption of state laws. The final package reflects a mix of negotiated compromises and adopted amendments. Notably, the House adopted an amendment removing provisions that would have created federal supremacy over pesticide labeling laws, while retaining language that would preempt state animal welfare laws, including California’s Proposition 12. Pending a decision on E-15 legislation, which has been politically tied to the farm bill, the bill will now move to the Senate. Its path forward remains uncertain, including the possibility that the Senate advances its own version rather than taking up the House-passed bill.

Source: House Clerk

Why it matters: The House-passed 2026 Farm Bill delivers a handful of meaningful wins but ultimately reinforces the status quo. The removal of the pesticide liability shield demonstrates that harmful, industry-backed provisions can be defeated in a broad, bipartisan way, and serves as a win for MAHA priorities. This bodes well for influencing the inclusion of controversial provisions in future legislation, including the Senate’s upcoming farm bill. Yet the bill still includes federal preemption of state laws like California’s Proposition 12—undermining independent producers and entrenching corporate advantage. While several smaller improvements support local and regional food systems, the bill stops short of the structural reforms needed to address consolidation and rebalance power in agriculture.