Farm Bill: Passed by The U.S. House

The House passed its version of a five-year farm bill on Thursday in a 224-200 vote, sending the long-delayed package to the Senate after lawmakers stripped out a pesticide liability provision that had drawn fierce opposition from the “Make America Healthy Again” movement.

Credit: House Ag Committee

Reuters reported that 14 Democrats joined Republicans in backing the bill.

The measure, called the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), would extend much of the existing farm bill framework while preserving cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that were included in President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill last year.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson said in a statement:

“It is clearer every day that farm country needs updated policy that reflects current challenges, and the 2026 farm bill fills that gap.”

The House bill also drops a provision that would have blocked some lawsuits against pesticide makers, a change Reuters said was driven by pressure from MAHA activists. On the other side of the debate, farm groups welcomed the bill’s passage and argued it would bring stability to growers facing higher fuel and fertilizer costs.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said:

“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.”

Democrats and anti-hunger groups said the package does too little for struggling farmers and low-income households.

House Agriculture Committee ranking member Angie Craig said:

“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.”

Anti-hunger advocates also criticized the bill for leaving intact $187 billion in SNAP cuts passed in Trump’s broader spending law.

The bill still needs Senate approval before it can reach Trump’s desk, and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman said he will release the Senate bill text in the coming weeks.

Reuters reported that the House version also leaves out a Republican-backed provision to allow year-round sales of E15 gasoline, with a separate House vote expected on that issue on May 13.

For House Republicans, the vote was a rare step forward on a bill that has been stalled since the last farm bill expired in 2023.

The committee’s own summary describes the 2026 package as “A modern farm bill for modern challenges,” and says the measure aims to expand rural investment, improve conservation programs and increase producers’ access to credit.

The Senate now becomes the next battleground, with the fight likely to center on nutrition funding, pesticide litigation, and how much the final package should do for farmers under pressure from high input costs and volatile markets.