Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies for 2026. It pays for farm programs, food safety, and research; supports rural housing, business, water, power, and broadband; and funds nutrition help like school meals, WIC, and SNAP . It also sets aside at least 10% of certain rural loans and grants for counties facing long‑term poverty, aiming more help at places that need it most .

There are several day‑to‑day changes. Schools with healthy balances don’t have to raise paid lunch prices for the 2025–26 school year , and schools can’t use imported poultry or seafood from China in federal meal programs . FDA must step up enforcement against illegal e‑cigarettes using at least $200 million in tobacco fees , and update public advice on eating fish based on current nutrition science . The bill also creates small pilot programs, like local “Energy Circuit Riders” to help rural towns plan and finance energy‑saving projects and grants to help tribal and nearby schools run child nutrition programs .

Key points

• Who is affected: Farmers, food producers, rural communities, schools, families using WIC/SNAP, and consumers.
• What changes:
  • Funding for USDA, FDA, and nutrition programs continues .
  • Extra focus on persistent‑poverty counties via a 10% set‑aside for certain rural loans/grants .
  • School meal price relief for 2025–26 if accounts aren’t in the red .
  • No Chinese poultry/seafood in school meals .
  • Stronger action against illegal e‑cigarettes with dedicated funding .
  • New rural energy and tribal nutrition pilot grants .
  • Updated federal fish‑eating advice from FDA/HHS .
• When: Most items apply to fiscal year 2026; some school meal and pilot provisions have specific 2025–26 or multi‑year timelines as noted above .