Millions-strong Farmer Coalition Urges Prop. 12 Relief in Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 27, 2026 — The National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation, representing more than 5 million members, led a coalition urging Congress to provide regulatory certainty for farmers across the country forced to comply California Proposition 12—and the impending patchwork of differing state laws that could ultimately impact prices for consumers.
Taking their concerns directly to congressional leadership, a coalition of nearly 400 agricultural groups sent a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), detailing robust arguments opposing the extraterritorial state law.
- The massive problems caused by Prop. 12 cannot be solved via regulation or executive order—it is solely Congress’ authority and responsibility to provide a solution, as noted in the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision.
- Prop. 12 has created uncertainty across rural America, especially on small and medium-sized farms, as they have less financial ability to retrofit barns to comply with the restrictive law.
- There is significant bipartisan willingness to fix Prop. 12.
o Trump administration Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “[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.”
o Biden administration Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said, “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.” - Laws like Prop. 12 do not improve animal welfare and lack scientific evidence.
o The American Veterinary Medical Association said, “the arbitrary housing requirements in Prop 12 do not objectively improve animal welfare and may unintentionally cause harm.” - Prop. 12 sets the stage for an unworkable 50-state patchwork of laws.
o A proposal in Oklahoma would increase housing requirements beyond Prop. 12. This means that pork producers nationwide, regardless of whether they have converted to be Prop. 12-compliant, would yet again be out of compliance to access another state market. - Farmers’ costs to house their animals are increasing.
o Multiple university studies show that constructing new, Prop. 12-compliant barns can cost 25-40% more per sow than other housing styles, not including the estimated 15% higher operating costs per pig caused by reduced productivity. - Prop. 12 is responsible for declining food affordability as grocery story pork prices are skyrocketing.
o North Dakota State University economists found that since Prop. 12 was implemented, prices for covered products in California have increased nearly 20% on average. - Prop. 12 leads to pork industry consolidation, as smaller farms close their doors because of the regulatory burdens and high costs of complying with Prop. 12.
The 2026 House Farm Bill protects everyone’s freedom to farm while also allowing states to act independently by allowing laws that regulate practices and impact commerce within their borders. California’s Proposition 12 goes beyond those protections and dictates practices in other states.
NPPC and almost 400 other agricultural groups stand up for the rights of all pork producers, regardless of size, and call on Congress to pass the House Farm Bill with a Prop. 12 fix.
AFBF economists analyzed the impact of state laws on interstate commerce in a recent Market Intel. Read it here.