Sep 18, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Senate Agriculture Committee Advances the Farm Bill

On September 16, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a markup on the Agricultural Act of 2026. The bill

Sep 18, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues House Passes Water Resources Development Act, Senate Advances Competing Measure

On September 16, The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (H.R. 9497), by a vote of 415-9. The bill now moves to the Senate, which is considering its own

Sep 11, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congress Member Jim Costa a Leading Contender for Ranking House Agriculture Committee Seat

The House Agriculture Committee is drawing the attention of Democrats who are considering bids to become the party’s top member of the Committee, after the current Ranking Member leaves Congress at the end of her term

Sep 04, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congress Passes Short-Term Funding Bill, Delays Hemp THC Restrictions

Congress passed a continuing resolution on September 1, 2026, funding the federal government through December 11. Along with that, they are delaying the implementation of restrictions on hemp-derived THC products that had been scheduled to take effect November 12.

Sep 04, 2026

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues House Agriculture Chair Seeks Waiver of GOP Term Limit

House Agriculture Committee Chair, G.T. Thompson (R-PA), is seeking a waiver from House GOP leadership to continue serving as the panel’s top Republican next year, despite being term-limited under conference rules that cap members at three terms leading a committee.

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