Reposted from: https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/33648-kansas-senator-reverses-position-on-legislation-to-stop-prop-12
June 12, 2026
Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) withdrew his name this week from the Food Security and Farm Protection Act, also known as the Senate version of the Save Our Bacon Act, intended to stop California’s Proposition 12.
The original bill in April 2025 was co-sponsored by Marshall and Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and six other Republican colleagues. The legislation would prohibit state or local government from interfering with commerce practices in another state outside their jurisdiction.
During a hearing at the Senate Agriculture Committee this week, Marshall said passing year-round sale of E15 was his top legislative priority.
Grassley made remarks on the Senate floor on June 11, asserting the farm bill in the Senate should include ending Prop 12.
“We have one state out of 50, California, saying that you can’t sell pork in their state — and California’s about 15% of [the] consumer [pork] market in the United States — if it isn’t raised just exactly [how] the law of California says it should be raised,” Grassley said. “The farmers of Iowa are telling me, ‘Get rid of Proposition 12.’”
In 2023, Marshall was also a co-sponsor of the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, which also challenged the California law.
Following the news of Marshall’s withdrawal, some groups in favor of keeping Prop 12 lauded his decision.
“We farmers in western Kansas are really proud of Senator Marshall for heeding our message that farmers have upgraded their sow housing systems and for protecting their access to California’s humane pork market,” said Mike Schultz, founder of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association and vice president of the Organization for Competitive Markets.
The American Meat Producers Association (AMPA), which works with companies in favor of keeping California’s Prop 12 in place, also supported the move.
“Senator Marshall did American family farmers right by removing support for this dangerous bill,” said Holly Bice, president of the AMPA.
The Prop 12 ballot initiative was approved by California voters in 2018 and barred the sales of eggs or raw pork or veal sourced from animals housed in ways that do not meet California’s minimum standards. The Supreme Court upheld the state law in 2023.