WHAT HAPPENED: The House of Representatives on April 30 passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) by a bipartisan vote of 224–200. Now, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) says he plans to release a “working draft” of his version of the bill next week, before the Senate leaves for recess, with a committee markup targeted for July. Boozman has indicated he is focused on producing legislation that can attract Democratic support — and that he will not include a controversial pesticide labeling provision that failed to survive the House floor and is unlikely to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to clear the Senate filibuster.
WHY IT MATTERS: The House-passed bill contains a provision — adopted by an overwhelming 384–35 bipartisan vote — that would allow SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken with their benefits. Current law prohibits SNAP from being used on hot, ready-to-eat foods.
WHAT’S NEXT: The current extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expires September 30, 2026, and with midterm election pressures expected to slow legislative activity in the fall, the farm bill is seen as a prime candidate for lame-duck action if a compromise can be negotiated. Democrats have been pushing for any bipartisan deal to roll back SNAP restrictions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill reconciliation package, which remains the chief sticking point. NCC will continue to monitor the Senate’s progress and advocate for the SNAP rotisserie chicken provision as the bill advances.
