President Donald Trump issued a proclamation to overhaul his steel, aluminum and copper tariffs, adjusting how duties are applied to imports of the raw metals and downstream products containing the metals.
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Category: Legislative Updates
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Farm equipment giant John Deere has agreed to pay $99 million and provide equipment owners with access to "repair resources" to vehicle owners to settle a class-action lawsuit over the company's repair practices.
Under a proposed settlement filed in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois, Deere would give farmers the ability to "diagnose and repair problems without having to use the services of an authorized dealer," according to a brief filed last week on behalf of farmer plaintiffs in the case. It called the action a "sea change" in the company's provision of repair tools.
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President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO), "Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors," on March 26, 2026. This EO adds to several executive orders previously issued by the President aimed at dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government and among private-sector federal contractors. This order represents a major escalation by moving from general policy statements to enforceable contract terms. The new EO orders federal agencies to include by April 6 a mandatory clause in all new and existing contracts (and subcontracts at all tiers) prohibiting "racially discriminatory DEI activities".
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Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.), joined by 15 fellow Republican senators, sent a letter urging OSHA not to move forward with the implementation of a proposed heat regulation. OSHA's first-of-its-kind proposed rule, titled “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings,” was introduced in August 2025, and a final rule is widely expected to be issued in mid-to-late 2026. Although the specific heat standard is not yet mandatory, OSHA continues to enforce heat safety under the General Duty Clause and its National Emphasis Program (NEP), which has been extended through 2026.
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The Senate Agriculture Committee will take up a farm bill of its own in the coming months. Senate Ag Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) noted that the timing depends in part on how debate on the House version proceeds, as reported by Agri-Pulse. Regarding the possibility of passing a partial farm bill this year following the House Ag Committee's approval of a measure earlier this month, Boozman stated he does not intend to wait for the full House to act. Instead, the goal is to move a Senate version “as soon as possible—weeks, not months and months.”
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Farm organizations have appealed to the administration to propose a new round of assistance for agricultural producers as part of a defense supplemental request for funding the conflict with Iran. The Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in supplemental funding for the war effort. Chairman Boozman stated that inclusion of farm aid is a “natural fit” for the supplemental bill, noting the harm the conflict is causing farmers through disrupted supply chains that have driven up the cost of fertilizer and fuel.
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The Producer Price Index (PPI) for materials and services used in nonresidential construction rose 0.1 percent from January and 3.1 percent compared to February 2025, driven by sharp increases in metal prices. An analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) warned that rising costs are making it increasingly difficult for contractors and owners to proceed with planned projects.
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The House Agriculture Committee on March 5 approved a new five-year reauthorization of the farm bill that would extend many of the major U.S. Department of Agriculture programs through 2031. The Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 (HR 7567) passed by a margin of 34 to 17, with all Republicans and seven Democrats voting in favor of the bill. The bill, which is often being referred to as Farm Bill 2.0, would replace the 2018 farm bill that expired in 2023 but has been temporarily extended many times since then. The measure is now headed to the House floor although it remains to be seen whether the bipartisan support is enough to convince GOP leaders to put the measure on the floor.
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Efforts to increase year-round use of ethanol blends from the standard 10% up to at least 15% continue despite having not met the deadline to produce a compromise. An attempt to include the provision in the FY 2026 funding measure was slowed amid opposition from small oil refiners and environmentalists. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority John Thune established a Council between all of the affected groups with a deadline of February 25 to bring forth a consensus measure. While discussions in that group continue, an attempt was made to include a provision in the House farm bill but was rejected due to lack of jurisdiction.
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On February 26, 2026, the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) unveiled a highly anticipated proposed rule that could alter how businesses determine whether workers should be classified as employees or independent contractors. The DOL’s proposed rule would rescind and replace the current test (promulgated under the Biden administration) with a slightly modified version of the first Trump administration’s 2021 rule.
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