Senate Republicans on Tuesday released a sweeping five-year farm bill proposal aimed at boosting support for farmers, expanding rural development programs, and strengthening agricultural lending, but the measure faces significant hurdles, as it leaves in place a contentious requirement that states share some of the cost of federal food assistance benefits.

The legislation, unveiled by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., closely tracks the House-passed Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 and marks the Senate GOP's latest effort to end years of delays in reauthorizing the nation's farm policy framework.

The current extension of the 2018 farm bill is set to expire Sept. 30, 2026.

Farm bills, traditionally renewed every five years, govern hundreds of billions of dollars in agricultural, conservation, forestry, rural development, and nutrition programs. Congress has repeatedly extended the previous legislation as lawmakers remained divided over funding priorities and the balance between farm supports and nutrition assistance.

In announcing the proposal, Boozman emphasized its focus on rural America and agricultural producers.

"This legislation would increase investments for rural communities and foster a more resilient agriculture sector," Boozman said in a statement.

"I'm proud to put forward this discussion draft that reflects the input and priorities of Republicans, Democrats, and most importantly, rural America," Boozman wrote.

"This bill is built for the people who feed America, and I look forward to continuing conversations with my colleagues about how we can best serve them and the communities they call home," he added.

The proposal would expand federal farm loan programs and increase investments intended to support rural communities while seeking to provide long-term certainty for producers facing rising debt levels, higher input costs, and economic uncertainty.

Farm debt is projected to reach record levels in 2026, according to agricultural economists, while farm bankruptcies have increased in recent years.

However, the bill's path through the Senate remains uncertain because Republicans will likely need Democrat support to overcome the chamber's 60-vote threshold.

The biggest obstacle continues to be changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP.

The Senate proposal does not reverse a recently enacted requirement that states contribute toward SNAP benefit costs based on payment error rates, a policy Democrats argue could strain state budgets and threaten food assistance for vulnerable Americans. Republicans have largely defended the provision as a way to improve program accountability.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., ripped the legislation in a statement.

"I OPPOSE the Save Our Bacon Act and any attempt to jam it into the Farm Bill," Schumer wrote on social media.

"This bill would gut state food safety and animal welfare laws, wipe out voter-approved protections, and strip states like NY of the right to set basic standards," he added. "It's a giveaway to Big Ag and meat monopolies, punishing family farmers who followed the rules, while giving the biggest corporations more power to squeeze farmers and families."

Schumer continued, "Congress should be lowering food costs, not rewarding the monopolies driving them up. The Save Our Bacon Act does not belong in the Farm Bill, and I will fight to keep it out."

"Senate Agriculture Committee Democrats have been clear that a Farm Bill must meet the needs of both farmers and families across America," Democrats on the committee said in a statement.

"This bill does not address the devastating cuts to SNAP or the shift to state taxpayers passed into law as part of HR 1," they added.

The Senate draft also omits the controversial Save Our Bacon Act, a proposal backed by some livestock groups that would preempt California animal welfare standards opposed by many producers. Boozman has previously indicated that excluding such provisions could help attract bipartisan support.

Despite the disagreements, Boozman said negotiations are continuing with Senate Agriculture Committee ranking member Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

"I'm working very closely" with Klobuchar, Boozman said. "Hopefully, at the end of the day, we'll get them all on board, and we'll have a product that we can all be very proud of and, most importantly, a product that will help our farmers and keep them in business."

The measure is expected to serve as the starting point for negotiations as lawmakers race to complete a long-term farm bill before current authorities expire at the end of the fiscal year.