House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn "GT" Thompson released draft text of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 on Feb. 13, aiming to advance a long-delayed farm bill that would override California's Proposition 12 animal housing rules while leaving year-round E15 ethanol sales off the table. The proposal matters because it reshapes livestock regulation, conservation policy, and pesticide labeling, even as broader farm safety net and crop insurance reforms were addressed in 2025 legislation.

The committee is scheduled to mark up the bill on Feb. 23, though passage remains uncertain amid early opposition from Democrats who argue the proposal lacks bipartisan compromise.

Thompson described the measure - sometimes referred to as a "skinny farm bill" or "Farm Bill 2.0" - as a modernization effort following the July 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which already updated key farm safety net programs, nutrition funding, and crop insurance structures.

"This bill provides modern policies for modern challenges," Thompson said, emphasizing support for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities navigating volatile commodity prices and rising input costs.

One of the most consequential provisions would nullify state laws such as California's Proposition 12, which imposes stricter housing standards for pigs, poultry, and other livestock sold into the state's market.

Supporters argue the measure would prevent a patchwork of state regulations from disrupting interstate commerce and livestock supply chains. The National Pork Producers Council welcomed the move, saying it would protect producers from costly compliance mandates that affect pork operations nationwide.

Opponents counter that repealing Prop 12 overrides voter-approved standards and undercuts farmers who have already invested in compliant housing systems. Animal welfare advocates note longstanding concerns over gestation crates and argue that federal preemption could set a precedent affecting broader livestock policy debates.

The outcome could influence pork and poultry production costs, facility investment decisions, and ultimately consumer prices - all at a time when livestock margins remain sensitive to feed costs and export demand.

No Year-Round E15 - Despite Presidential Promise

Notably absent from the draft is legislation authorizing nationwide, year-round E15 ethanol sales. Less than a month ago, President Trump told an Iowa audience that permanent E15 access was imminent.

The omission leaves ethanol producers and corn growers waiting for clarity. Expanded E15 availability is viewed by many in the biofuels sector as a domestic demand lever capable of supporting corn prices, rural investment, and energy security goals.

With Brazil expanding corn production beyond 5 billion bushels annually and export competition intensifying, domestic ethanol demand remains a key pillar of U.S. corn balance sheets.

The proposal would reauthorize the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) while maintaining the 27-million-acre cap. Conservation groups welcomed continued support for federal conservation programs and precision agriculture initiatives but raised concerns about staffing shortages at USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

According to conservation advocates, roughly 22% of NRCS staff - 2,673 employees - departed in the first half of 2025. Without sufficient field capacity, conservation contracts and technical assistance could stall, limiting program effectiveness for producers implementing sustainable agriculture practices.

Other Key Provisions

Beyond livestock and conservation, the bill includes several structural policy changes:

• Uniform pesticide labeling requirements, preventing individual states from imposing stricter warning labels.

• Coordination of SNAP nutrition guidelines with the Make America Healthy Again initiative.

• Expanded reporting requirements for foreign-owned farmland, reflecting national security concerns.

• Retention of tighter THC limits in hemp products, alarming segments of the hemp industry.

• Transfer of the Food for Peace international food aid program to USDA, consolidating oversight.

• Higher limits for guaranteed operating loans, offering additional liquidity options for farmers facing elevated input costs and interest rates.

House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig, D-Minn., criticized the draft, urging bipartisan negotiations and calling for measures addressing trade stability, tariff pressures, and domestic market expansion such as year-round E15.

With Democrats labeling the proposal a "political charade," bipartisan support remains uncertain. Yet the stakes are high. The farm bill governs programs affecting commodity prices, crop insurance, conservation payments, nutrition funding, and export competitiveness - pillars of U.S. agricultural stability.

As markup approaches, livestock producers, ethanol stakeholders, conservation advocates, and agribusiness investors will be watching closely. Whether Congress can bridge partisan divides may determine not only regulatory clarity for 2026 but also the broader direction of U.S. agricultural policy amid global competition and evolving supply chain dynamics.