Agricultural Data Privacy Act of 2026
Gives agricultural producers control over data from their operations and requires written consent for its sale, while setting contract, security, and enforcement rules.
In the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee since Sept. 23, 2026, 12 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 23, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Farm equipment and digital services can collect information about crops, land, livestock, and farm operations. The proposal would recognize agricultural producers as owners of covered data linked to them and require their written consent before a covered sale. It would also set contract, security, and federal enforcement rules.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Give producers ownership and control
An agricultural producer would own and control agricultural data linked to them that comes from their farm, land, devices, or equipment. A controller or processor could use that data for authorized services and processing, but that right would not include selling it.
- Require written consent for data sales
A controller or processor could not sell agricultural data without the producer’s express written consent. The consent would have to appear in a clear, prominent disclosure separate from the main service terms or data-use agreement.
- Set contract and security rules
Contracts made on or after January 1, 2027, for collecting or processing agricultural data would have to state that it cannot be sold without the producer’s express written consent. Controllers and processors holding the data would also have to maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security practices.
- Set federal enforcement rules
The Attorney General could seek court orders or a civil penalty of $1,000 for each separate violation. For alleged contract or security violations, the Attorney General would generally have to give written notice and allow 45 days to cure; that opportunity would not apply to violations of the data-sale consent rule. The Attorney General would be the only enforcement route, and the Act would create no private right to sue.
The bill states that its purpose is to protect the economic value of agricultural data and producers’ autonomy, while maintaining data security. It would set rules for when covered agricultural data can be sold and how it must be protected.
The bill assigns enforcement to the Attorney General and bars private lawsuits under the Act. For certain contract and security violations, it also provides a chance to fix the problem after notice before a civil-penalty action can begin.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 23, 2026SENATESEP 23, 2026By Sen. RickettsReferred to Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 23, 2026AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, & FORESTRY NOWSEP 23, 2026In committee for 12 daysNo hearing yet
- 12 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 232026SEP 23, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- SEP 232026SEP 23, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 12, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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