U.S. House passes farm bill 

On April 30, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the five-year farm bill. 

The bill passed 224-200, as Republicans picked up 14 votes from Democratic representatives. 

The bill will need to be passed by the Senate and then signed by President Trump in order to become law. 

The House version removed a provision that was opposed by the “Make America Healthy Again” movement that would have blocked some lawsuits against pesticide makers. 

“The new challenges and opportunities our producers face require new policy, and the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 rises to meet the occasion,” said House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson in a statement. “This bill builds on the historic ag investments made last summer in H.R. 1, often known as the Working Families Tax Cuts.” 

In a statement, Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman said he plans to release the Senate version in the next few weeks. 

IFPA BB #:378962 President and CEO Cathy Burns released the following statement on the bill’s passage in the House: 

“The passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 by the U.S. House of Representatives is an important step toward delivering the certainty and stability America’s specialty crop growers urgently need. Specialty crop growers supply the fresh fruits and vegetables that are foundational to America’s health. A strong, five-year farm bill is essential to help these producers weather the unique pressures they face and keep fresh produce on the plate for families across the country. Alongside the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, we urge the Senate to build on this momentum and advance a farm bill that provides strong support for specialty crop growers and strengthens the nation’s food system.”  

FMI BB #:162464 Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher offered the following statement: 

“The Farm Bill has long served as a cornerstone of our nation’s food and agriculture policy. At a time of ongoing economic uncertainty and supply chain challenges, it is critical that Congress work collaboratively to deliver a modern, bipartisan Farm Bill that provides stability and certainty across the food supply chain, while also supporting nutrition programs, promoting agricultural innovation, strengthening rural economies, and keeping food affordable and accessible for all Americans.  

“As private sector partners with the federal government and critical access points for SNAP participants, FMI and its grocery members are committed to strengthening the integrity and efficiency of nutrition programs for millions of customers in every community. We applaud the House for including bipartisan provisions to make the SNAP online pilot program permanent, provide a permanent extension of the prohibition on state and contractor EBT processing fees for retailers, and broaden the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) to include additional forms of fruits and vegetables.” 

The National Grocers Association BB #:163424 also supports the bill’s passage in the House. 

“Independent grocers operate on razor-thin margins, and transaction fees on SNAP purchases have threatened to impose detrimental costs on the very stores that serve as the backbone of food access in rural and low-income communities,” said Stephanie Johnson, NGA’s group vice president of government relations. “We are grateful for the inclusion of the permanent ban on EBT fees and remain committed to working with the Senate to ensure this provision is included in the final bill.”