The Farm Bill (119th Congress)
(H.R. 7567/S. ###)
The Farm Bill is a multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural, food, and conservation programs. The Animal Legal Defense Fund carefully monitors and works to influence the Farm Bill because it is a “must-pass” piece of legislation that presents recurring opportunities to advance stronger animal protection policies and defeat harmful ones.
Status
The Farm Bill is a multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural, food, and conservation programs. It is typically reauthorized every five years, and provides lawmakers an opportunity to address agricultural issues, including ones related to animal welfare.
The last Farm Bill was signed into law in December 2018 and was originally set to last five years. Congress later extended it for two more years. In 2025, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which updated parts of the Farm Bill, changed some funding rules, and extended certain programs through 2031.
The Farm Bill legislative process begins with the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. Each draft and markup their own versions of the bill based on committee priorities, stakeholder input, and budget considerations. Because the House and Senate have different memberships, voting margins, political priorities, and policy approaches, their versions often differ on funding levels and specific policy provisions.
If both chambers pass different versions, they must reconcile those differences—either through a conference committee or another negotiated process—to produce a single, identical bill. Both the House and Senate must then approve the final compromise before it is sent to the President for signature into law.
As noted above, Congress has not been successful in passing the standard five-year Farm Bill reauthorization that was supposed to be done in 2023. Rather than advancing a single bipartisan package on the typical five-year schedule, Congress has faced delays, competing legislative priorities, and differing approaches between the House and Senate. The two chambers have pursued different timelines and controversial policy provisions, such as attempts to overturn California’s Proposition 12 (known as the EATS Act, or the “Save Our Bacon Act”) have upended the process.
Learn more about the House and Senate Farm Bills below:
Attempts to overturn California’s Proposition 12 have been a major fight both outside of and within Farm Bill negotiations. The Food Security and Farm Protection Act (S. 1326) and the so-called “Save Our Bacon” Act (H.R. 4673) are standalone bills that ALDF opposes because they aim to undermine the ability of states to enact their own laws affecting the treatment of animals. Language from the “Save Our Bacon” Act was included in the House-passed Farm Bill, and ALDF is working to ensure it is not included in the Senate version.
Why is this legislation important?
The Animal Legal Defense Fund carefully monitors and works to influence the Farm Bill because it is a “must-pass” piece of legislation that presents recurring opportunities to advance stronger animal protection policies.
While the Farm Bill has historically benefited industrial agriculture, it has also served as a vehicle for significant animal protection measures. Previous Farm Bills have included provisions outlawing the consumption and trade of dog and cat meat in the U.S., closed loopholes for cockfighting, and expanded federal domestic violence protections to include the companion animals of abuse victims, illustrating the potential that the Farm Bill can have for improving the lives of animals.
Far more often, however, the Farm Bill is used to advance the interests of industrial animal agriculture with little or no consideration for the welfare of farmed animals. Because of its broad scope and political importance, the Farm Bill can either strengthen animal protections or undermine them, making it a critical focus of the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal advocacy.
For more information about federal animal protection legislation and opportunities to take action for animals, visit our federal bills page.
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