Expiration of Farm Bill Provisions: Consequences for States

The 2018 farm bill includes many provisions that expired September 30, including funding authorization for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), policy provisions and authorizations for a number of conservation programs, and other provisions relevant for states.

This brief summarizes the contents and history of the farm bill, discusses different funding mechanisms for farm bill programs, and surveys selected programs of importance to states and their current funding status given the expiration of many farm bill provisions. Even without an active authorization, most of the major grant programs in the farm bill will continue operating as long as funds are appropriated.