With the House having passed its Farm Bill and Senate Republicans preparing to release their own proposal, attention is increasingly focused on the next phase of Farm Bill reauthorization. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) has indicated that Senate Republicans are working toward releasing legislative text and beginning committee consideration in June. Chairman Boozman has stated that the Senate proposal will seek to build bipartisan support while advancing a five-year reauthorization bill. Negotiations are expected to continue around nutrition policy provisions, which remain one of the primary areas of discussion between the parties.
Congress reached a significant milestone on April 30, 2026, when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) by a bipartisan vote of 224-200. The legislation would reauthorize federal agriculture, nutrition, conservation, forestry, energy, and rural development programs for five years and marked the first time a Farm Bill has advanced out of a chamber of Congress since the current law was enacted in 2018.
The federal Farm Bill is a comprehensive package of legislation that governs agriculture policy, nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP, conservation, rural development, forestry, energy programs, and other initiatives critical to producers and communities. It provides the framework for supporting economic growth in rural areas, ensuring food security, and supporting agricultural productivity and rural prosperity. Reauthorization is essential to maintain continuity for these programs and to enable new investments that strengthen locally driven economic development.
The House's action follows years of delays and multiple extensions of the current law, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (H.R. 2, P.L. 115-334), which is currently authorized through September 30, 2026. Passage of the House bill has renewed momentum for reauthorization efforts and raised expectations that Congress may be able to complete work on a long-term Farm Bill before the current extension expires.
Reauthorization of the Farm Bill remains one of IEDC's top federal policy priorities for 2026. IEDC continues to advocate for a strong Rural Development Title and supports inclusion of $50 million for a new Rural Partnership Program to fund locally driven economic development initiatives in rural communities. These investments would provide critical resources to local leaders working to strengthen regional economies, support entrepreneurship, attract investment, and improve quality of life in rural America.
Separately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has continued implementing plans for a significant departmental reorganization. USDA has announced that several agencies and offices will be relocated from the Washington, D.C., region to locations around the country, with implementation expected to continue throughout 2026. Congressional oversight and stakeholder engagement regarding the reorganization are expected to continue as the transition moves forward.
Next Steps: Senate Agriculture Committee consideration of a Farm Bill is expected to be the next major milestone in the reauthorization process. If the Senate advances legislation, lawmakers will then work to reconcile differences between the House and Senate proposals before sending a final package to the President. With current authorities set to expire on September 30, 2026, congressional leaders continue to face pressure to complete a long-term reauthorization this year.