Pork Producers Call for Federal Fix to California's Prop 12

National Pork Producers Council pushes Congress to act before further chaos

Feb. 3, 2026 at 12:47am

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Pork producers across the U.S. are urging lawmakers in Congress to pass a legislative fix this year for California's Proposition 12, which regulates the housing dimensions for pigs. The industry argues that Prop 12 unfairly regulates farming practices outside of California's borders and is calling for a single federal law to supersede the state-level regulation.

Why it matters

Prop 12 has been a major source of contention for the pork industry since it was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2023. Pork producers say the law's arbitrary housing requirements are costly and disruptive, and they want Congress to step in with a federal fix that would establish uniform national standards.

The details

Jackie Bowman Ponder, who serves on the National Pork Producers Council board and is the Chief Legal Officer for Bowman Family Holdings, says the industry is seeking "one law from the federal government" that would prohibit states from regulating farming practices outside their own borders. She notes that House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn 'G.T.' Thompson plans to introduce a Prop 12 fix as part of the upcoming 'Farm Bill 2.0', which Republican leaders have said they want to bring to a floor vote before the Easter recess.

  • Prop 12 has been in effect in California since January 1, 2024.
  • The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Prop 12 in May 2023 in the case of National Pork Producers Council v. Ross.
  • House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn 'G.T.' Thompson plans to introduce a Prop 12 fix in the coming weeks as part of 'Farm Bill 2.0'.
  • House Republican leaders want to bring the Farm Bill to a floor vote before the Easter recess.

The players

Jackie Bowman Ponder

Member of the Board of Directors for the National Pork Producers Council and Chief Legal Officer for Bowman Family Holdings, a pork production company.

Glenn 'G.T.' Thompson

Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania's 15th district and Chair of the House Agriculture Committee.

National Pork Producers Council

A trade association representing pork producers across the United States.

Bowman Family Holdings

A pork production company based in Indianapolis, Indiana that owns facilities across Indiana and Michigan.

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What they’re saying

“We want one law from the federal government that says you can't have a regulation or a law within one state that regulates outside of their borders when it comes to how we raise our pigs.”

— Jackie Bowman Ponder, Chief Legal Officer, Bowman Family Holdings (Hoosier Ag Today)

“There was a Prop 12 fix in a Farm Bill that was put forth by the House Ag Committee last year. We've been told that fix is expected to be in a markup of the Farm Bill that will go to the House at the end of February. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he's committed to having it go to the floor for a vote, and there would be a fix to the patchwork regulation in that Farm Bill.”

— Jackie Bowman Ponder, Chief Legal Officer, Bowman Family Holdings (Hoosier Ag Today)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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