Senate releases its Farm Bill 2.0 draft: the Agricultural Act of 2026

The biggest development on Farm Bill 2.0 as of June 25, 2026 is that the Senate has finally released its version, though the legislation remains far from becoming law.

Where things stand

On June 23, 2026, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) released the Agricultural Act of 2026 as a discussion draft. The House previously passed its version, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, on April 30 by a 224–200 vote.

Senate committee consideration is expected in July, after which the measure would still need to clear the full Senate and be reconciled with the House bill. The existing 2018 farm bill has been temporarily extended through September 30, 2026, creating a practical deadline for Congress to either pass another extension or finish a replacement.

A discussion draft is not a vote, and it is not law. It is a starting text the committee uses to negotiate ahead of a formal markup.

What the Senate draft contains

The Senate proposal would update commodity, dairy, disaster, and risk-management programs; modernize conservation programs; expand assistance for specialty crops; increase drought flexibility; improve agricultural credit; and invest in research, rural broadband, water systems, mental-health services, and local processing.

The main roadblocks

SNAP remains the largest partisan dispute. Senate Agriculture Committee Democrats say the draft does not reverse the SNAP reductions or the shift of some food-assistance costs to states enacted through H.R. 1. They acknowledge the draft contains bipartisan provisions but say further negotiation is necessary before it could succeed on the Senate floor.

Several controversial policies are absent. The Senate draft does not include:

• A federal override of California's Proposition 12 and similar state livestock standards;
• Authorization for year-round sales of E15 ethanol;
• The debated pesticide-labeling preemption language.

The House-passed version does contain the Proposition 12-related provision. Farm and pork organizations are pressing senators to add it, while animal-welfare groups are praising its omission. Farm groups are also seeking year-round E15 authorization and additional economic assistance.

Food for Peace has become another obstacle. Republican Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) says he will not support advancing the Senate draft unless it permanently transfers administration of the Food for Peace international aid program to USDA, as the House version would do.

Latest reactions

On June 25, Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) called the proposal a "strong foundation," highlighting provisions on conservation, research, rural development, and precision agriculture, while acknowledging that further work is needed. Major farm organizations have generally described the draft as a useful first step rather than a finished agreement.

Separately, on June 24, President Trump requested more than $11 billion in additional farm aid to address high fuel and fertilizer costs and weak crop prices. That request is distinct from Farm Bill 2.0, although it may affect negotiations over whether the farm bill itself must contain more immediate economic assistance.

Outlook

The next decisive event will be the Senate Agriculture Committee markup, expected in July. The issues most likely to determine whether the bill advances are a SNAP compromise, Proposition 12, E15, Food for Peace, and direct economic assistance. Because the Senate version differs materially from the House bill and will effectively require bipartisan support to move through the Senate, enactment before September 30 remains possible but uncertain.