Senate Farm Bill Fails Committee Vote as SNAP Dispute Stalls Legislation

WASHINGTON -- The Senate Agriculture Committee's version of the 2026 farm bill died in committee Thursday after failing a floor-advancement vote, 10-11, with disagreements over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program blocking a bipartisan deal.

The panel held a full markup of the Agricultural Act of 2026, Chairman John Boozman's revised five-year farm bill, but could not assemble the votes to send it to the full Senate. According to a report by DTN, most amendments were decided on 12-11 party-line votes, and the nutrition title proved the decisive break point.

Boozman, R-Ark., had released updated legislative text on July 31 that included a one-year delay of new SNAP cost-share requirements for states. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law last year, states would become newly responsible for sharing the cost of SNAP benefits beginning in October 2027, with a state's share tied to its payment error rate. According to a policy briefing published by the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, states with error rates of 6% or higher would pay between 5% and 15% of benefit costs -- and the revised Senate text would have pushed the highest bracket to 20% while delaying implementation by one year.

Democrats said that offer wasn't enough. According to Ag Bull Trading, Democrats argued the one-year delay gives states additional budgeting time without fixing the underlying cost-share formula or giving states sufficient runway to lower the error rates that will determine their eventual liabilities. They held out for a two-year delay.

The committee's math made the outcome fragile before the first vote was cast. According to the National Association of Counties, the committee needed at least one Democratic vote to offset the continued absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Then Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., left the meeting before the final committee vote, according to DTN, meaning a Tuberville presence would only have produced a tie -- still a failure.

Despite the failed advancement vote, the committee did adopt several amendments during the markup. According to the National Association of Counties, those included expanding SNAP eligibility to cover hot rotisserie chicken, permanently transferring the Food for Peace program to USDA, and reinstating mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef.

Boozman's revised text had also drawn some bipartisan interest on agricultural provisions. The updated bill authorizes permanent year-round sales of E15, fuel blends containing 15% ethanol, according to Feedstuffs. The National Corn Growers Association welcomed that inclusion. The House passed its own version of the farm bill, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, in April.

The Senate now heads into its August recess. According to DTN, lawmakers are not scheduled to return until Sept. 14, when a limited fall agenda awaits them: full-year appropriations, supplemental farm aid, nominations, and a farm bill only if time allows.

If Congress does not pass a new farm bill before Sept. 30, it will need to extend the 2018 Farm Bill for a third time, according to the Farm to Table New Mexico policy blog.

Boozman made clear in a statement released alongside the revised text that he intends to keep pushing. "We owe it to our dedicated farmers to move this legislation across the finish line," he said.

Sources cited:
- DTN -- Senate Farm Bill Markup Fails Committee Vote Over SNAP (https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2026/08/06/senate-farm-bill-markup-fails-vote)
- National Association of Counties (https://www.naco.org/news/senate-agriculture-committee-holds-farm-bill-markup-remains-committee)
- Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative -- Updated Farm Bill 2026 (https://indigenousfoodandag.com/policy-briefing/updated_farm_bill_2026/)
- Ag Bull Trading -- SNAP Standoff Puts Senate Farm Bill Markup on a Knife Edge (https://www.agbull.com/snap-standoff-puts-senate-farm-bill-markup-on-a-knife-edge/)
- Feedstuffs -- Senate Ag to Mark Up Farm Bill This Thursday (https://www.feedstuffs.com/policy/senate-to-mark-up-farm-bill-this-thursday)
- Senate Agriculture Committee -- Chairman Boozman Releases Updated Farm Bill 2.0 Text (https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/rep/press/release/chairman-boozman-releases-updated-farm-bill-20-text-announces-business-meeting)
- Farm to Table New Mexico -- US Senate Releases Discussion Draft of the Farm Bill (https://farmtotablenm.org/2026/08/01/us-senate-releases-discussion-draft-of-the-farm-bill/)