OPPOSE: The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (House Farm Bill) (Federal)

​The Animal Legal Defense Fund​ opposes ​this bill.

Sponsors:​ Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee

​Introduction Date:​ February 13, 2026

Markup Date: February 23, 2026

The Farm Bill is a multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural, food, and conservation programs. It is typically renewed about every five or six years and provides lawmakers an opportunity to address agricultural issues, including those related to animal welfare.

The most recent Farm Bill was enacted into law in December 2018 to cover a five-year period. In November 2023, Congress enacted a one-year extension to cover the 2024 fiscal year and passed another one-year extension in December 2024 to cover the 2025 fiscal year. In 2025, Congress passed a reconciliation package — the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) — which amended certain provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill, changed the authority of some mandatory spending programs, and authorized some programs through 2031. The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) is what the House has referred to as a “skinny” Farm Bill, addressing policy issues that were not included in H.R. 1. 

Unfortunately, this legislation contains several provisions that endanger animals, undermine states’ rights, and threaten public health, including:

Overturns California’s Prop 12:

Section 12006 includes the text of the Save Our Bacon Act, which would nullify California’s Proposition 12 and similar state measures enacted to protect animals from extreme confinement, while barring states and localities from setting production standards for farmed animal products sold in interstate commerce if those standards differ from those of other states. This language could have far-reaching implications beyond products from animals considered “covered livestock,” impacting sectors not initially targeted. If enacted, this sweeping preemption could jeopardize years of hard-won state-level protections for farmed animals. 

Undermines Protections for Dogs and Perpetuates Weak Enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act: 

Instead of strengthening enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Section 12406 calls for a report on current enforcement — even though there are well-documented, ongoing failures by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to hold licensees accountable for failing to meet basic animal care standards. 

Currently, if an animal in an Animal Welfare Act–licensed facility is suffering, the USDA must require the licensee to correct the problem and provide proper care immediately — if the licensee refuses, cannot be reached, or the animal remains at risk, officials may confiscate the animal. Section 12406 of the 2026 Farm Bill, however, would require dogs to be in a state of “unrelieved suffering” before action is taken and would make intervention optional — allowing the USDA to merely consider removal or notify law enforcement instead of requiring direct action, while suggesting an even higher threshold of suffering for other species. 

Allows Federal Funds to Support Mink Fur Farming: 

Section 3201(d) of this bill repeals a provision that prevented federal funds from being used to assist the U.S. Mink Export Development Council or any mink-industry trade association. This would enable taxpayer dollars to be used to support or pay personnel to carry out market access or promotion activities for the mink fur industry despite shrinking markets, significant public health concerns, and the severe cruelty that animals face in this industry.

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 opportunities every few years to advance stronger animal protection policies.

Although the Farm Bill has historically benefited industrial agriculture, it has also 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.

Unfortunately, recurring issues with the Farm Bill include generally denying farmed animals federal protection, promulgating the intense confinement of farmed animals, and continued attempts to preempt state-level protections, such as California’s Proposition 12.

​​For more information about federal animal protection legislation and opportunities to take action for animals, visit our federal bills page.