The Farm Bill is the primary piece of federal legislation governing food and agriculture in the United States. For food access advocates, the most critical piece is Title 4: Nutrition, which covers SNAP, the largest federal food assistance program in the country.
The most recent Farm Bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, expired in 2023 and has since been extended through September 30, 2026.
In April 2026, the House passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) by a vote of 224 to 200. The bill now moves to the Senate. Of particular concern to food access advocates are proposed changes to SNAP that would impose stricter work requirements and shift costs to state and local governments, potentially reducing access for families already struggling to afford food.