Dush, Thompson Join Forces to Shield Family Farms, Agricultural Producers from Forced Confiscation

HARRISBURG - PA State Sen. Cris Dush (R-25) and U.S. Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA) are working together to advance state and federal legislation to protect private farmland from being forcibly confiscated through eminent domain.

Thompson stated in a recent press release announcing the introduction of the Not In My Barnyard Act (H.R. 10135) that "the loss of productive agricultural land when other viable sites exist directly threatens our nation's food security and rural communities. The 'Not In My Barnyard' Act protects America's producers and ensures our working land is dedicated to feeding the country."

Thompson's bill would prohibit the federal government from initiating eminent domain proceedings on any agricultural land when a feasible alternative site exists, ensuring the U.S. has enough productive farmland to feed and fuel the country.

Currently languishing in the Democrat-controlled Pennsylvania House, Dush's private property protection legislation (Senate Bill 225) was unanimously advanced by the Pennsylvania Senate in June 2025 to financially protect farm owners whose properties are seized through eminent domain and the corresponding loss of goodwill.

"Ultimately, the commonsense purpose behind both our respective bills is to make it far more difficult for government to confiscate private farmland," Dush said. "Any life-sustaining family farm that has been meticulously cared for, cultivated, and enriched over generations has amassed a great deal of economic and community goodwill which is permanently destroyed whenever agricultural producers are forced off their land. This is especially true for Centre County farmers whose food-producing private properties are currently being targeted by PennDOT for the I-322 Connector project."

As chairman of the Senate State Government Committee, Dush convened a hearing on this issue back in 2024 where the committee heard from these Centre County farmers, which can be viewed here.

By ensuring that farmers and businesses are fairly compensated for any property they are forced to sell, Dush's legislation seeks to restore Pennsylvanian's "inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness" as stated in Article 1, Section 1 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Both Dush's Senate Bill 225 and Thompson's Not In My Barnyard Act are fully supported by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

CONTACT: Ty McCauslin, 717-787-7084