On March 5, 2026, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee voted 34–17 to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, commonly referred to as “Farm Bill 2.0.” A major component of the markup was the inclusion of the Save Our Bacon Act, a legislative fix addressing the nationwide impacts of California’s Proposition 12.
The provision, included as Section 12007 of the bill, was originally introduced as standalone legislation (H.R. 4673) and is designed to prevent states from imposing livestock production standards on farmers located outside their borders.
The Save Our Bacon Act clarifies that state and local governments cannot require farmers in other states to follow their production standards as a condition of selling products in their markets. In practical terms, it would prevent California—or any state—from dictating housing or production requirements for livestock raised in other states.
The language applies specifically to covered livestock such as pork, beef, and veal, while excluding egg-laying poultry production. It also does not regulate transportation, processing, or movement of livestock, focusing only on the ability of states to impose extraterritorial production mandates.
Supporters argue the provision is necessary to restore a nationally consistent marketplace for agricultural producers, after Proposition 12 created significant disruptions in the pork industry.
Industry groups, including the National Pork Producers Council, say California’s law has already caused major supply disruptions and increased costs. Some estimates indicate that pork prices in California have risen more than 40 percent, largely because many producers outside the state cannot economically comply with California’s housing mandates.
Supporters of the Save Our Bacon Act argue that allowing states to regulate farming practices across state lines creates a dangerous precedent that could allow activist-driven regulations to spread nationwide through large consumer markets.Opposition from Animal Rights Organizations
Animal rights organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA, strongly oppose the provision. These groups argue the measure would undermine what they call “animal welfare standards” established under Proposition 12 and accuse Congress of attempting to overturn voter-approved initiatives.
While the measure passed the House Agriculture Committee with bipartisan support, its future remains uncertain. The proposal must still pass the full House of Representatives and then move through the U.S. Senate, where some lawmakers have already raised concerns about federal preemption and states’ rights.
Supporters argue that without congressional action, Proposition 12 could become a template for activist-driven state laws that effectively regulate agricultural production nationwide.
