The battle over California’s Proposition 12 is heating up once again on Capitol Hill. In a July 23 hearing, House Agriculture Committee members revisited the controversial 2018 law that bans the sale of pork from pigs housed in small, confined spaces — and new data from the USDA has further fueled the debate.
Republicans Renew Push to Limit Prop 12
House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.) is leading a renewed push to curtail Prop 12 through the upcoming farm bill. Thompson is advocating for language that would restrict the law’s enforcement to within California’s borders, effectively shielding out-of-state pork producers from its mandates.
“The cost of compliance for small producers could actually push them out of the market altogether, leading to further consolidation in the industry,” Thompson said during the hearing.
A key Republican goal is to include a scaled-down version of the “Food Security and Farm Protection Act” — previously known as the EATS Act — which would prevent states from imposing their own agricultural standards on products coming from other states.
USDA Data: Pork Prices Up, Low-Income Consumers Hit Hardest
Newly released USDA data indicates that California’s pork prices have jumped significantly since Prop 12 went into effect on January 1, 2024.
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Pork prices in California rose 19% year-over-year as of June.
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Low-income families have reduced their pork consumption by 22%, according to a USDA study.
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Retail prices remain 20% higher than pre-Prop 12 levels, according to scanner data presented by NPPC economist Holly Cook.
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Cook also cited a study showing that nationwide Prop 12-style standards could reduce U.S. consumer welfare by $41 billion over 15 years.
Industry Investment and Division
Despite the controversy, 27% of U.S. pork producers have already made — or are in the process of making — investments to comply with Prop 12. Retrofitting or rebuilding barns to meet the new housing requirements costs an estimated $3,500 to $4,500 per sow, according to a letter from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to Chairman Thompson.
Interestingly, some producers and companies that have already invested in compliance are now opposed to repealing the law, citing sunk costs and newly established market advantages.
What Comes Next?
Thompson aims to introduce draft farm bill language by September, including provisions to neutralize the cross-border impacts of Prop 12. However, environmental groups and several Democrats argue that such measures would undermine state-level animal welfare regulations and threaten states’ rights.
President Donald Trump has pledged to oppose any state law that “hurts American farmers in other states,” while California continues to defend its right to regulate products sold within its borders.
Swine Web Takeaway:
The Prop 12 debate is far from over — and the upcoming farm bill could serve as the next battleground. While some in the industry seek uniformity in interstate commerce laws, others are navigating a fragmented regulatory landscape that favors large, vertically integrated operations. One thing is certain: small and mid-sized producers are caught in the crosshairs.
Stay tuned to Swine Web for continuing coverage on the future of Prop 12 and its impact on producers across North America.
