Congress is gearing up to pass a Farm Bill, which is the legislative package that governs agricultural, food, and other programs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Typically, Congress renews the Farm Bill every 5 years. The last Farm Bill was passed in 2018, meaning that the package has been up for reauthorization since 2023. 

On June 23, 2026, the Senate Agriculture Committee released the legislative text for their 2026 Farm Bill 2.0, the Agricultural Act of 2026. Earlier this year, the House Agriculture Committee’s 2026 Farm Bill, H.R. 7567 the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, passed the House on a bipartisan basis. The discussion draft must go through a formal committee markup and vote before it can advance to the Senate floor. Please find NRHA’s letter of support for the Senate bill here and the House bill here. 

Several critical rural provisions were included in this bill such as: 

• Inclusion of language based on S. 4141 the Rural Hospital Revitalization Act, which provides 0% interest loans through USDA's Community Facilities Programs to eligible hospitals for renovations or new constructions. Eligible hospitals include CAHs, REHs, and hospitals 35 miles from the nearest hospital that demonstrate need.
• Inclusion of language based on S. 1282 the Rural Health Care Facility Technical Assistance (TA) Program Act, that codifies and strengthens the pilot Rural Hospital TA program to continue preventing closures, strengthening essential health services, and improving the financial and operational sustainability of rural healthcare facilities.
• Inclusion of language to codify the USDA ReConnect broadband program and streamline the application process, based on language in NRHA-endorsed S. 3084 the ReConnecting Rural American Act, which deploys broadband to underserved rural communities, prioritizing unserved, remote rural communities, requiring minimum broadband speeds, and supporting grant funding for tribal areas and colonies.
• Reauthorization of the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program and expands eligible use of program funds to be used toward operating and administrative expenses, as well as waves match requirement for eligible entities in cases of demonstrated need.
• Inclusion of language from NRHA-endorsed S. 2282 the Farmers First Act that reauthorizes the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network and increases funding to $15 million. The program helps to establish referrals to providers to connect individuals to behavioral health counseling and wellness support and to ensure individuals have access to a comprehensive scope of mental health and substance abuse treatments.
• Reauthorization of the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program at $10 million per year for five years. This program offers flexible grant funding for rural areas to maximize job opportunities and support private investment in regional economies.

NRHA views the Farm Bill as an opportunity to improve health care access for agricultural workers and their families, build rural economic and community development, and enhance the overall quality of life in rural communities. NRHA looks forward to Congress enacting a comprehensive, bipartisan Farm Bill to support rural communities.

We encourage you to advocate on behalf of these requests by using the pre-drafted text in the campaign. As always, feel free to add your voice to the pre-drafted text to ensure your elected officials understand the unique needs of your community!  NRHA’s Farm Bill priorities can be found here. If you have any questions, contact Marguerite Peterseim (mpeterseim@ruralhealth.us).