Aug 28, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Bipartisan Measure Introduced to Establish National Flood Risk Reduction Program

Last week, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Congressman Don Beyer (VA-8) introduced the National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act. This bipartisan measure would create a coordinated federal program, modeled on the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program, to improve

Aug 20, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues USDA Acts to Remove Roadless Rule Restrictions to Combat Wildfire Risk

On Tuesday, August 18, the U.S. Forest Service filed a proposed rule to rescind, in its entirety, the national 2001 Roadless Area Conversation Rule, citing that the one-size-fits-all restriction has frustrated land managers and served as a barrier to wildfire risk reduction work

Aug 13, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congress Sends Disaster Tax Relief Legislation to President’s Desk

On August 7, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act (H.R. 5366), sending the bipartisan legislation to the President’s desk

Aug 07, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Marks Up Farm Bill 2.0

On August 6, the Senate Agriculture Committee marked up the Agricultural Act of 2026, but a motion to report the bill failed 10- 11. Rather than adjourn the meeting, Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) recessed the Committee, subject to the call of the Chair, preserving the option to hold another vote after the August recess

Aug 07, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues U.S. Senate Funding Bill Would Temporarily Narrow Hemp THC Ban

The Senate’s stopgap funding bill (H.R. 6500), which would fund federal agencies through December 11, would also provide a temporary reprieve from the upcoming prohibition on most hemp-derived THC products. The ban was enacted late last year through

Jul 31, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Senate Agriculture Committee Plans Farm Bill Markup Next Week

This week, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) stated that he expects to mark up the Senate Farm Bill by August 6

Jul 31, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Senators Urge USDA to Reconsider Rural Development Reorganization

A group of twenty-two U.S. Senators led by Peter Welch (D-VT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is urging USDA to reconsider its proposed reorganization of the Rural Development

Jul 31, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Senate Committee Advances Padilla Water Recycling and Monterey Bay Study Bills

On July 29, 2026, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced, by voice vote, two bills introduced by Senator Alex Padilla

Jun 26, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues NACO Issues Update and Action Alert for Signing of Bipartisan Housing Bill Awaiting Presidential Signature

​On Wednesday, the National Association of Counties sent an Action Alert regarding the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644)

Jun 26, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues U.S. Senate Ag Committee Releases Farm Bill Text

On June 24, U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Senator John Boozman (R-AR) released the Senate draft of the Farm Bill, marking the beginning of formal Senate consideration of the legislation ahead of an expected committee markup next month. At a high level