H.R. 7567 · 119th Congress
Farm Bill 2.0

News · August 12, 2026

Senate Ag Committee Fails to Advance Farm Bill 2.0, 10-11

The Senate Ag Committee markup of Farm Bill 2.0 failed on a 10-11 party-line vote over SNAP cost-sharing. Chairman Boozman plans a September reconvene.

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TL;DR: The Senate Agriculture Committee markup of Farm Bill 2.0 failed Thursday, August 7, 2026, on a 10-11 party-line vote, with all Democrats opposed. The core dispute was SNAP cost-sharing: Chairman Boozman offered a one-year delay, Democrats wanted two. Boozman recessed rather than adjourned and plans another committee vote the first week of September.

Key takeaway

The Senate Ag Committee deadlocked 10-11 on Farm Bill 2.0 over a one-year versus two-year delay in SNAP state cost-sharing, scored at roughly $19 billion.

What happened

The Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance Farm Bill 2.0 on Thursday, August 7, 2026, on a 10-11 party-line vote, with all Democrats united against sending the bill forward. Chairman John Boozman recessed the committee rather than adjourning it, preserving his ability to reconvene and hold another vote on the same bill.

The core sticking point was SNAP cost-sharing. SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the federal food-benefit program formerly known as food stamps. Boozman offered a one-year delay on shifting a share of benefit costs to states, with White House backing. Democrats demanded a two-year delay.

A Democratic amendment by Sen. Ben Ray Lujan to extend the delay to two years failed on party lines. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored that amendment at roughly $19 billion. You can follow each recorded vote on our vote tracker and see how the Senate draft compares in our full bill summary.

Sen. Mitch McConnell voted by proxy from medical leave, and Sen. Tommy Tuberville left before the final vote. Both were part of the Republican bloc.

What it means

The failed markup keeps Farm Bill 2.0 stalled in the Senate, but it does not kill the bill. Because Boozman recessed instead of adjourning, the same text can return for another committee vote without restarting the process. The dispute is narrow but expensive, centered on how quickly states must begin sharing SNAP benefit costs.

For readers tracking the bill, here is who is affected by the current impasse:

  • SNAP recipients and advocates: The fight is over timing of state cost-sharing, not immediate benefit cuts. A one-year versus two-year delay is the live question.
  • Row-crop and specialty farmers: Title programs beyond nutrition remain in limbo while the SNAP dispute blocks the full bill.
  • Conservation and crop-insurance stakeholders: No new authorizations advance until the committee clears a bill.

The two-year Democratic version carries a roughly $19 billion cost difference per CBO, which is the practical barrier to a deal. See how the Senate draft differs from current law in our what's new vs. 2018 breakdown and track the process on our Senate status page.

What's next

Boozman told reporters he will call another committee vote during the first week of September on the same bill. As of August 12, 2026, no revised text or amendment package has been announced.

Boozman said it would take a "miracle" to pass the Farm Bill before the midterms, but added "we can do it with cooperation." That framing signals the September vote is likely to hinge on whether either side moves on the SNAP cost-sharing timeline.

On the House side, Ag Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson said the failure of the Senate vote does not end work on a full five-year farm bill. Thompson also criticized Senate Democrats, saying they were "not in search of real solutions for farm country." Follow the broader schedule on our timeline and status page and the steps ahead on our path to signing overview.

Frequently asked questions

Why did the Senate Ag Committee farm bill vote fail?

The Senate Agriculture Committee markup of Farm Bill 2.0 failed on August 7, 2026, on a 10-11 party-line vote, with all Democrats opposed. The core dispute was SNAP cost-sharing. Chairman Boozman offered a one-year delay on shifting benefit costs to states, while Democrats demanded a two-year delay. A Democratic amendment to extend the delay to two years, scored by CBO at roughly $19 billion, failed on party lines.

What is SNAP cost-sharing in the farm bill?

SNAP cost-sharing refers to shifting a portion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit costs from the federal government to states. SNAP is the federal food-benefit program formerly called food stamps. In the current dispute, Chairman Boozman proposed delaying state cost-sharing by one year, while Democrats sought a two-year delay. The two-year version carried a roughly $19 billion cost difference per the Congressional Budget Office.

When will the Senate Ag Committee vote on the farm bill again?

Chairman Boozman told reporters he will call another committee vote during the first week of September 2026 on the same bill. Because he recessed the committee rather than adjourning it, the same text can return without restarting the process. As of August 12, 2026, no revised text or amendment package has been announced.

Does the failed vote kill Farm Bill 2.0?

No. The failed 10-11 vote did not kill Farm Bill 2.0. Chairman Boozman recessed the committee rather than adjourning, which preserves his ability to reconvene and vote again. House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson also said the failure of the Senate vote does not end work on a full five-year farm bill.

What did the Lujan amendment propose?

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan proposed an amendment to extend the delay on SNAP state cost-sharing to two years, up from the one-year delay Chairman Boozman offered with White House backing. The amendment failed on party lines. The Congressional Budget Office scored it at roughly $19 billion, which represents the cost gap at the center of the impasse.

Can the farm bill pass before the 2026 midterms?

Chairman Boozman said it would take a "miracle" to pass the Farm Bill before the midterms, but added "we can do it with cooperation." As of August 12, 2026, the committee has not cleared a bill, and a September vote is planned. Passage before the midterms remains uncertain and likely depends on whether either party moves on the SNAP cost-sharing timeline.

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