The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry advanced its version of the 2026 Farm Bill on September 16, 2026, moving forward legislation that includes several provisions important to counties and rural communities.
The committee approved the Agricultural Act of 2026 on a 12-11 vote. The legislation now moves to the full Senate, although Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Arkansas) has indicated that a floor vote is expected after the November midterm elections. The current extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expires September 30, 2026.
While the Farm Bill is often associated primarily with agriculture and nutrition programs, it also authorizes federal programs that support county priorities including rural infrastructure, economic development, broadband, health care, childcare, conservation and land management.
Rural Infrastructure and Water Systems
The Senate proposal includes provisions supporting rural water and wastewater infrastructure, including assistance for financially distressed rural water systems and cybersecurity assistance for water and wastewater utilities.
These programs are particularly important for smaller and rural counties where aging infrastructure, limited ratepayer bases and the cost of complying with federal requirements can make major infrastructure investments difficult.
Rural Health Care
The legislation also places additional emphasis on rural health care. USDA Community Facilities programs would prioritize health and behavioral health facilities, while the Distance Learning and Telemedicine program would provide additional opportunities to support behavioral health and substance-use services.
The proposal also includes assistance aimed at rural hospitals, an important issue for counties where access to health care can be affected by hospital financial pressures, workforce shortages and long travel distances.
Rural Childcare
Childcare is increasingly recognized as both a family issue and an economic-development issue in rural communities. The Senate Farm Bill would prioritize childcare facilities within USDA Community Facilities programs and provide additional opportunities to support childcare through rural business programs.
Expanding childcare availability can help rural communities attract and retain workers while supporting local employers experiencing workforce shortages.
Broadband and Rural Connectivity
The legislation continues federal efforts to expand broadband connectivity in rural America. It would streamline USDA broadband programs and improve coordination among USDA, state broadband offices and other federal agencies.
The proposal also includes provisions aimed at improving connectivity for agricultural operations and supporting precision agriculture.
Helping Smaller Counties Access Federal Resources
Of particular interest to counties with limited administrative capacity are provisions providing technical assistance to rural communities seeking federal funding.
Smaller counties may qualify for USDA grants and loans but lack the staff or technical expertise necessary to develop projects and navigate complicated federal application processes. Expanded planning and technical assistance could help these communities compete more effectively for federal resources.
Conservation and Watershed Programs
The Senate proposal continues major conservation programs that support soil conservation, water quality, watershed protection and agricultural land stewardship.
These programs can complement county efforts involving flood mitigation, erosion control, water quality and watershed resilience while providing assistance to agricultural producers implementing conservation practices.
Forestry and Wildfire Mitigation
The legislation also expands tools available for forest management and wildfire mitigation. Among other provisions, it expands Good Neighbor Authority, which facilitates partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service on restoration and land-management projects.
While these provisions have greater significance for western and heavily forested counties, they reflect the broader county interest in ensuring local governments can participate in federal land-management decisions.
SNAP Changes Remain an Issue for Counties
The legislation also revisits some of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cost-sharing changes enacted in 2025.
The Senate proposal would delay implementation of the new SNAP benefit cost share by one year and provide states and counties additional flexibility in determining which payment-error-rate data are used to calculate certain future cost-sharing obligations. However, it would not delay the separate reduction in the federal share of SNAP administrative costs.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) continues to advocate for additional time for states and counties to adjust to these changes, particularly in the ten states where counties directly administer SNAP. Illinois is not a county-administered SNAP state, meaning the direct fiscal implications for Illinois counties differ from those jurisdictions.
What Comes Next
The Senate legislation is not yet law. Following committee approval, it must still pass the full Senate. The House approved its own Farm Bill, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), on April 30 by a vote of 224-200. Differences between the House and Senate versions would ultimately have to be reconciled before legislation could be sent to the President.
For Illinois counties, the Senate proposal contains several provisions worth watching as negotiations continue. Investments and policy changes affecting water and wastewater infrastructure, rural health care, childcare, broadband, conservation and access to USDA assistance could provide meaningful benefits to rural communities.
ISACo will continue monitoring Farm Bill negotiations and providing updates on provisions affecting Illinois counties.