Farm Bill passes out of key Senate committee, moving toward final vote
The long-debated farm bill passed out of the Senate Agricultural Committee this week, paving the way for a final vote in the future on the legislation, which covers everything from SNAP benefits to timber innovation.
by Summer Lane | September 18, 2026
The U.S. Senate passed President Donald Trump’s championed farm bill out of a key Senate committee this week along clear party lines, moving the legislation closer to a final vote on the Senate floor.
The Senate version of the bill – the Agricultural Act of 2026 – can now be moved to the Senate floor for a full vote, likely after Congress returns from its fall recess following the 2026 midterm elections (the Senate will recess in early October).
“Yesterday our Farm Bill passed along strict Party Lines, 12 Republican ‘YEAS,’ to 11 Dumocrat ‘NAYS,’” President Trump wrote in a Truth Social statement. “So, in other words, we got it done! The Phase Two Vote will be taken soon, and I feel confident that the Republicans will again come through for our wonderful Farmers and Ranchers. It will be passed!”
The House passed the Farm Bill in April. This week, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed its version of the legislation, following the return of committee member and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell (R), who was long absent from the Senate following a serious fall at his home over the summer.
According to the Senate Committee, “Farm Bill 2.0” is a “modernized farm bill” aimed at supporting rural farm communities. It draws from the previously signed “Working Families Tax Cuts” from 2025.
The new farm bill would also modify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The Senate version of the bill gives states a grace period of one year to contribute a percentage of the cost of SNAP benefits if their payment error rate is 6 percent or greater. In other words, if states are erroneously handing out too much money (or too little), states will be required to foot that bill, but they’ll have one year to clean things up before dishing out funding.
The bill also covers commodities (income support, disaster relief, etc.), crop insurance subsidization, conservation, trade policies, rural development, loans and grants, forestry and forest management, and energy.
“We look forward to the Vote!” President Trump said of a future final vote on the legislation.
He continued, “I want to totally reassure our Farmers and Ranchers, and our Rural Communities, that they will be extremely happy with the end result. In addition to everything else, some much needed Dollar Assistance will be provided — and well deserved — considering all these incredible people have had to endure due to four years of Sleepy Joe Biden, and the very Anti-Farm Biden Administration.”
Photo: Adobe Stock
