This blog is part of our “Farm Bill Bulletin” series, which provides intermittent updates on the development and status of our nation’s next farm bill.
On April 30, the House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, moving the nation and rural communities one step closer to a new farm bill.
The bill was passed by a vote of 224-200. Fourteen Democrats joined the majority of Republicans in voting for the bill, with three Republicans voting against it. Unlike the vote that took place on March 5, which was limited to the 56 members of the House Agriculture Committee, last week’s vote was made by all 435 members of the House.
Because legislation regarding crop insurance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) previously passed through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, the House debate largely focused on an amendment to remove a provision that would protect pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits related to health risks. Additionally, lawmakers showed up to debate whether or not the vote should include a measure to allow for year-round sales of E-15 fuel. The pesticide language was removed by a vote of 280-142, while a vote on E-15 legislation was bumped to May 13.
The House vote reflects the most progress Congress has made toward passage of a new farm bill since the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 expired in 2023. Now attention will turn to the Senate, where the Senate Committee on Agriculture has yet to release its own version of the bill. Once passed by the full Senate, the two versions must be conferenced and approved again by both chambers before proceeding to the president’s desk and becoming law.
The Center has been monitoring passage of a new farm bill and provisions that affect agricultural producers and rural communities. While the legislation touches all corners of rural life, points of interest include:
Rural development: The bill includes reauthorization of and improvements to the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) as outlined in the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act of 2025. In addition to reauthorizing the program through 2031, the bill would raise the loan cap from $50,000 to $75,000, allow entrepreneurs to renovate existing buildings, and allow lenders to fully fund loans using RMAP dollars. In addition, the bill reduces the required match for lenders who serve areas with persistent poverty rates.
Working lands conservation: The bill pulls $1 billion from the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) over 10 years to support states and Tribes initiating or administering soil health programs. Additionally, the bill increases cost-share for precision agriculture in CSP and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and allows states to select carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reduction as an issue to address when selecting priority practices for increased cost share.
With the current farm bill extension set to expire on Sept. 30, now is an important time to contact your senator and ask them to prioritize meaningful progress on a farm bill. Stay tuned to the Farm Bill Bulletin in the coming weeks for ways to engage your member of Congress on issues that are important to all rural communities.
