Senators Markey, Warren Statement on House-Passed Farm Bill Provision That Would Preempt State Animal Welfare and Agriculture Protections

Washington (May 8, 2026) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released the following statement on the House of Representatives' passage of a Farm Bill that would preempt a Massachusetts law that prohibits in-state sale of products from farm animals held in extreme and cruel confinement. This state law, An Act to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals, was passed in 2016 through ballot measure Question 3 with 78 percent of the vote.

"We oppose the inclusion of a provision in the House-passed Farm Bill to preempt state-level animal welfare and agricultural protection laws," said the Senators. "This is a highly controversial and poisonous policy that ignores the will of the people. These state laws were overwhelmingly supported by a popular vote-they shouldn't be overridden because of big-dollar lobbying. We have significant concerns about the House-passed Farm Bill, including this overreaching and harmful provision that should not be in the Farm Bill and needs to be removed."

Last year, Senator Markey co-led a letter sent by 32 Senate Democrats objecting to the inclusion of this provision. Senator Markey signed a similar letter in 2023.

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