We’ve made a handy chart to track the farm bill through the committees, on the floor of the House and Senate, and eventually to the President’s desk. Orange and yellow shaded boxes indicate steps that have already happened; un-shaded boxes are steps that haven’t happened yet but must happen before the farm bill becomes law. You can hover over the boxes for more information. You can also check out our printer-friendly version here.
Where is the 2018 Farm Bill?
Senate
House of Representatives
Introduced to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
June 8, 2018
Introduced to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
6/8/18 – Bipartisan bill preserves much of 2014 Farm Bill structure, adopts key FBLE recommendations, and leaves room for improvement
Senate Ag Committee Markup
June 13, 2018
Senate Ag Committee Markup
6/13/18 – Amendments, including changes to loan limits and Sodsaver expansion, added to bill text; Grassley amendment to close ”actively engaged” loophole absent because of procedural barrier
Senate Ag Committee Vote
June 13, 2018
Senate Ag Committee Vote
6/13/18 – Bill passes out of Ag Committee on 20 to 1 vote, with Grassley voting against
Consideration by Full Senate
June 27, 2018
Consideration by Full Senate
6/27/18 – Adds amendments, including Grassley amendment to close “actively engaged” loophole
Senate Votes
June 28, 2018
Senate Votes
6/28/18 – S. 3042 passes with bipartisan 86-11 vote
Introduced to House Committee on Agriculture
April 12, 2018
Introduced to House Committee on Agriculture
4/12/18 – Partisan H.R. 2 would cut SNAP, conservation, and small/local farm programs
House Ag Committee Markup
April 18, 2018
House Ag Committee Markup
4/18/18 – Amendments, including “King Amendment,” added to bill text
House Ag Committee Vote
April 20, 2018
House Ag Committee Vote
4/20/18 – Bill passes out of Ag Committee on party-line vote
Consideration by Full House
May 17, 2018
Consideration by Full House
5/17/18 – Adds amendments to further cut SNAP
6/21/18 – House reconsiders H.R. 2, unchanged since prior vote
House Votes
June 21, 2018
House Votes
5/18/18 – H.R. 2 fails 198-213 without Democratic or Freedom Caucus support
6/21/18 – H.R. 2 passes 213-211, still without Democratic support
Conference Committee
August 1, 2018
Conference Committee
7/18/18 – House names 29 Republican conferees, 18 Democrat
8/1/18 – Senate names 9 conferees
Reconciled Farm Bill Sent Back to Each House
December 10, 2018
Conference Report
12/10/18 – Conference Committee release final Conference Report
Senate Votes
December 11, 2018
Senate Votes
12/11/18 – H.B. 2 conference substitute passes with bipartisan 87-13 vote
House Votes
December 12, 2018
House Votes
12/12/18 – H.B. 2 conference substitute passes with bipartisan 386-47 vote
President Signs 2018 Farm Bill
December 20, 2018
Presidential Signing Ceremony
12/20/18 – H.B. 2 signed into law at ceremony mostly discussing border wall
2018 Farm Bill Became Law
December 20, 2018
2018 Farm Bill is law until 2022