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Lawmakers continue debate over Proposition 12 in farm bill

An Iowa congresswoman says she believes Proposition 12 language still has a path forward in the Senate version of the farm bill.

Republican Ashley Hinson says the House was able to include an amendment that pushes back on California’s animal confinement law.

“It clearly passed out of the House in a bipartisan fashion,” Hinson said. “So, that to me signals that there is bipartisan support for this farm bill with this provision in it.”

She tells Brownfield officials in both the Trump and Biden administrations voiced concerns about Proposition 12.

“Secretary Rollins said that the current policy around Prop 12 is unsustainable,” Hinson said. “Prior to this administration, Secretary Vilsack also agreed that Prop 12 was unsustainable and needed to be overturned.”

Hinson says the provision that passed out of the House – the Save Our Bacon Act – ensures pork producers are not subject to out-of-state mandates that disrupt interstate commerce.

“I think it really threads the needle on protecting states’ rights while still making sure we’re reaffirming livestock producers’ rights to sell their products across state lines,” Hinson said.

Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman recently told Brownfield at NAFB’s Washington Watch that he supports a Prop 12 fix in the farm bill.

However, “I don’t think there’s a single Democrat that would vote for it,” the Arkansas Republican said.

Boozman said committee leadership is planning to offer some compromise on the issue to help find middle ground.