WASHINGTON, D.C., April 27, 2026 — A coalition of nearly 400 agricultural organizations, spearheaded by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation representing over 5 million farmers, is pressing Congress to address regulatory challenges stemming from California’s Proposition 12 in the upcoming Farm Bill.
The agricultural groups delivered a formal letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), outlining their opposition to the California law that affects farming operations across state lines.
The coalition presented several key arguments in their appeal to congressional leaders:
• Congressional action is the only viable solution to address Prop 12’s widespread impact, as confirmed by the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that placed responsibility squarely with federal lawmakers rather than regulatory agencies.
• The California law has generated widespread uncertainty throughout rural communities, particularly affecting smaller farming operations that lack the financial resources to renovate facilities to meet the new requirements.
• Bipartisan support exists for addressing the Prop 12 challenges. Former Trump administration Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated: “[Proposition 12] is not just affecting California. It’s affecting multitudes of other states, multitudes of other parts of the ag community, including our hog family farms.”
• Biden administration Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also voiced support for congressional intervention, saying: “California’s Proposition 12 is not a narrow issue, nor is it a regional one. It goes to the heart of whether farmers across the country can operate under consistent, responsible, science-based standards—or be subject to a shifting patchwork of mandates they cannot control and cannot afford. When I served as Secretary of Agriculture the Supreme Court of the United States made clear, resolving these interstate challenges is the responsibility of Congress. I encouraged Congress to act then, and I am again encouraging Congress to act now. The farm bill presents a clear and immediate opportunity to provide that certainty and uphold the principles that have long sustained American agriculture and the affordability of our food supply.”
• The American Veterinary Medical Association has questioned the effectiveness of Prop 12’s housing mandates, stating: “the arbitrary housing requirements in Prop 12 do not objectively improve animal welfare and may unintentionally cause harm.”
• The California law could trigger a complex web of conflicting state regulations. Oklahoma is considering legislation with even stricter housing requirements than Prop 12, which would force producers to make additional costly modifications to access different state markets.
• Construction costs for compliant facilities are significantly higher, with university research showing new barns meeting Prop 12 standards cost 25-40% more per sow than traditional housing, plus an estimated 15% increase in operating expenses per animal due to reduced efficiency.
• Consumer food prices have risen substantially since implementation. North Dakota State University economists found that prices for affected pork products in California have jumped nearly 20% on average since Prop 12 took effect.
• The regulatory burden is accelerating consolidation in the pork industry, as smaller producers close operations due to compliance costs they cannot afford.
The proposed 2026 House Farm Bill aims to preserve farming freedoms while respecting state authority over practices within their own borders. However, the coalition argues that California’s Proposition 12 exceeds these boundaries by imposing requirements on agricultural operations in other states.
The National Pork Producers Council and the broader coalition of agricultural groups are advocating for congressional passage of the House Farm Bill with provisions addressing the Prop 12 complications.
The American Farm Bureau Federation has published additional economic analysis examining how state laws affect interstate agricultural commerce, available through their Market Intel reports.
