Kalee Olson.

On April 30, the House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, moving the nation and rural communities one step closer to a new farm bill.

The bill was passed by a vote of 224-200. Fourteen Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the bill, with three Republicans voting against it. Unlike the vote that took place on March 5, which was limited to members of the House Agriculture Committee, last week’s vote was made by all members of the House.

The debate largely focused on an amendment to remove a provision that would protect pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits related to health risks. Additionally, lawmakers debated whether or not the vote should include a measure to allow for year-round sales of E-15 fuel. The pesticide language was removed by a vote of 280-142, while a vote on E-15 legislation was bumped to May 13.

The House vote reflects the most progress Congress has made toward passage of a new farm bill since the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 expired in 2023. Now attention will turn to the Senate, where the Senate Committee on Agriculture has yet to release its own version of the bill. Once passed by the full Senate, the two versions must be conferenced and approved again by both chambers before proceeding to the president’s desk and becoming law.

With the current farm bill extension set to expire on Sept. 30, now is an important time to contact your senator and ask them to prioritize meaningful progress on a farm bill.

Kalee Olson is senior policy manager at the Center for Rural Affairs.