A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Farmland for Farmers Act of 2026" aims to prohibit unauthorized legal entities from acquiring or holding ownership interests in agricultural land. It seeks to protect the family farm system, which is considered essential to national security and the economic well-being of rural communities. Under this bill, an authorized legal entity must consist of no more than 25 owners who are all natural persons actively engaged in farming. The legislation includes several exceptions for research, municipal corporations, and land owned prior to the Act's enactment. To ensure compliance, the bill requires specific affidavits and gives the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General oversight and enforcement powers.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +7
Would farmers be better off under this?
The legislation is specifically designed to protect the interests, economic wellbeing, and land-holding capabilities of independent farmers and ranchers.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
Independent farmers and ranchers benefit from reduced competition from large-scale corporate and institutional investors.
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill aims to protect the continued wellbeing and security of millions of residents in rural communities by limiting corporate control.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill allows for significant civil and criminal penalties, including potential imprisonment, which may pose risks to individual due process.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of the Family Farm System: The bill seeks to foster and encourage the family farm system, which is deemed essential to the social and economic wellbeing and national security of the United States (Section 2).
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Support for Local Communities: By limiting corporate ownership, the bill addresses concerns that large corporate investors are more focused on short-term profits than long-term land conservation and may have less interest in benefiting local communities (Section 2).
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Preservation of Generational Wealth: The bill recognizes agricultural land as a source of wealth, including generational wealth, for the people of the United States (Section 2).
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Increased Access for Independent Farmers: The legislation targets the advantage held by well-capitalized corporate interests that can outbid independent family farmers due to rising farmland prices (Section 2).
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Protection of Rural Community Welfare: The bill aims to protect the continued wellbeing and security of millions of residents of rural communities who are affected by the expansion of corporate ownership (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Significant Civil Penalties: Natural persons or legal entities found in violation of the Act may be assessed civil penalties up to 2 times the fair market value of the agricultural land at issue (Section 6).
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Criminal Penalties and Imprisonment: Any natural person who knowingly violates this Act as a shareholder, partner, member, or beneficial owner of an unauthorized legal entity could face up to 5 years in prison and fines (Section 6).
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Forced Divestiture: The Attorney General may initiate actions to require the divestiture of agricultural land, and if an order is issued, the entity has only 1 year to sell the land before it is sold at public sale (Section 6).
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Strict Compliance Burdens: Legal entities must submit a certifying affidavit at the time of acquisition and a federal tax return affidavit annually, under penalty of perjury (Section 5).
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Potential Restrictions via State Regulation: States are authorized to create even more restrictive regulations regarding the ownership of agricultural land, which could be more burdensome for owners residing in other states (Section 7).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The legislation is specifically designed to protect the interests, economic wellbeing, and land-holding capabilities of independent farmers and ranchers. Would business owners be better off under this? — Independent farmers and ranchers benefit from reduced competition from large-scale corporate and institutional investors. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill aims to protect the continued wellbeing and security of millions of residents in rural communities by limiting corporate control. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill protects the economic stability of family-run farms, which are a core component of middle-class rural life.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides a competitive advantage to independent family farmers by restricting well-capitalized corporate interests from outbidding them for land. Is this likely to create jobs? — By limiting large corporate ownership, the bill may facilitate more opportunities for independent family farmers to acquire land and grow their operations. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill aims to stabilize the family farm system which is considered essential to the economic wellbeing of the country.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill explicitly notes that limiting corporate ownership may promote longer-term land conservation compared to short-term corporate interests.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By protecting generational wealth and the economic viability of family farms, the bill aims to support the economic wellbeing of rural residents. Does this make housing cost less? — While focused on farmland, the preservation of rural economic structures can indirectly support community stability and housing availability in rural areas.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill expressly authorizes states to create even more restrictive regulations regarding agricultural land ownership. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill allows for significant civil and criminal penalties, including potential imprisonment, which may pose risks to individual due process.
- 4/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/27/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
James McGovernDemocrat · Massachusetts
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan