A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 683.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The bill titled the "Agricultural Act of 2026" provides for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2031. It covers a wide range of areas including commodities, conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, rural development, research, forestry, energy, horticulture, crop insurance, and miscellaneous livestock and national security provisions. The legislation updates and reauthorizes existing agricultural policies, adjusts loan and grant limits, and introduces new provisions to support farmers, rural communities, and consumers.
Yes· 3 of 42
- Scored +9
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill provides comprehensive support for agricultural producers, increasing loan limits, disaster relief, and market access.
- Scored +9
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill heavily invests in rural communities through infrastructure, healthcare, broadband, and agricultural development.
- Scored +8
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill heavily invests in rural infrastructure, broadband expansion, water systems, and economic development.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 1105 (Storage Facility Loans): Expands the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program to allow producers to construct or upgrade storage facilities for propane and fertilizer used for agricultural production. This benefits farmers by making necessary inputs more accessible and secure.
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Section 1302 (Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance): Expands livestock indemnity payments and emergency assistance for feed, water shortages, and transportation costs. This provides critical financial relief to livestock producers facing natural disasters, extreme weather, and predatory attacks.
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Section 2104 (Duties of the Secretary): Permits emergency haying on conservation reserve program contract acres in counties designated with severe drought or facing forage production losses. This helps livestock producers secure emergency feed during natural disasters.
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Section 4107 (Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP): Authorizes enhanced cybersecurity measures, requires State agencies to issue chip-enabled EBT cards, and reimburses States for upgrade costs. This protects vulnerable individuals from having their food assistance benefits stolen through card skimming and fraud.
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Section 6101 (Streamlining Broadband Authorities): Reauthorizes and streamlines the ReConnect Program with increased baseline speeds for rural broadband. This expands high-speed internet access for rural residents, businesses, and agricultural producers.
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Section 6302 (Rural Hospital Revitalization): Creates temporary zero-percent interest loans for eligible rural hospitals to construct, improve, or renovate facilities. This protects and expands access to essential healthcare services in rural communities.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 1102 (Servicing of Loans): Deems the servicing of certain marketing assistance loans and sugar program loans as "services for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property" during a lapse in appropriations. This could be interpreted as placing government debt servicing on par with life-safety emergencies, potentially burdening agency operations during budget stalemates.
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Section 4102 (State Cost Share Delay): Imposes an 80/20 Federal-to-State cost share for SNAP benefit allotments if a State's payment error rate equals or exceeds 10 percent. This shifts financial burdens onto State governments, which could indirectly lead to reduced state-level program support or administrative tightening for participants.
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Section 12202 (Reporting Requirements): Imposes strict 90-day reporting requirements and disclosures for foreign persons leasing agricultural land for more than 5 years. While aimed at national security, the broad reporting requirements could increase bureaucratic compliance burdens for ordinary agricultural leasing operations.
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 bill provides comprehensive support for agricultural producers, increasing loan limits, disaster relief, and market access. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill heavily invests in rural communities through infrastructure, healthcare, broadband, and agricultural development. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides extensive support, loans, grants, and regulatory relief for farmers, ranchers, and small business owners. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill strengthens nutrition assistance programs like SNAP and TEFAP and supports low-income rural water systems. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill expands Tribal inclusion in nutrition programs, conservation, and essential community facilities. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill improves rural healthcare, hospital revitalization, and senior farmers' market nutrition programs. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill includes dedicated programs, training, and preference for veteran farmers and ranchers. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The legislation provides education grants, fellowships, and beginning farmer support beneficial to young adults. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill supports 1890 land-grant institutions, underserved producers, and heirs' property resolution. Would children be better off under this? — The bill enhances child nutrition programs, school food purchases, and rural childcare facility development. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The legislation supports Hispanic-serving agricultural institutions and underserved agricultural producers. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — The bill supports agricultural producers, business owners, and workers in middle age. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The legislation supports middle-class families through rural economic development and broadband expansion. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill continues assistive technology programs for farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Would retired people be better off under this? — The legislation improves rural healthcare access and senior nutrition programs. Would students be better off under this? — The legislation expands educational grants, scholarships, and agricultural training programs. Would women be better off under this? — The bill establishes a Commission on Rural Maternal Health and supports childcare and healthcare access.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill heavily invests in rural infrastructure, broadband expansion, water systems, and economic development. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The legislation expands supplemental agricultural disaster assistance and emergency conservation programs. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The legislation expands conservation reserve programs, watershed protection, and environmental quality incentives. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill increases funding and support for rural renewable energy and bioenergy programs. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill improves forest health, hazardous fuel reduction, and public land management practices. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill promotes renewable energy, biobased products, and sustainable forestry and conservation practices.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill authorizes enhanced cybersecurity measures for SNAP and rural water systems and assesses sector vulnerabilities. Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill enhances international trade promotion, market access, and export programs for agricultural commodities. Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — The legislation strengthens international agricultural partnerships and educational exchange programs. Does this send more money or help to other countries? — The bill reauthorizes and funds international food aid and agricultural development programs like Food for Peace.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The legislation revitalizes rural healthcare and hospitals through zero-percent interest loans and targeted facility assistance. Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill increases funding for agricultural, forestry, and scientific research initiatives. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill prioritizes and funds mental and behavioral health facilities and services in rural communities. Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths? — The bill prioritizes substance use disorder prevention and treatment services within rural telehealth programs.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill expands high-speed broadband infrastructure and access in rural areas through the ReConnect and Last Acre programs. Does this put more money into scientific research? — The legislation significantly increases mandatory and discretionary funding for agricultural and scientific research. Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill increases funding for agricultural education, student scholarships, and school nutrition programs.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The legislation enhances support for small farms, rural small businesses, and agricultural processors through targeted loans and grants. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill boosts economic growth by reauthorizing and expanding agricultural programs, rural broadband, and trade promotion initiatives. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill creates jobs through expanded agricultural programs, rural development grants, and enhanced forestry initiatives.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill improves government transparency by requiring additional reporting, data publication, and public disclosures. Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — The bill improves interstate commerce and sales for agricultural products, including state-inspected meat and poultry. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill provides increased flexibility and grants for state-administered conservation and local food security programs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill prioritizes and provides grant funding for the development and improvement of childcare facilities in rural areas. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The legislation supports poverty reduction through nutrition assistance programs and targeted rural economic development.
- 9/24/2026
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Boozman. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 683.
- Bill introduced.
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.