H.R. 10135 – Not In My Barn Yard Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated August 22, 2026 at 5:21 AM UTC

The Not In My Barn Yard Act would stop the federal government from using eminent domain to take agricultural land when a reasonable alternative exists. It defines agricultural land as land used for farming, ranching, forestry or timber production in the past five years, with a small‑parcel exemption. The rule applies only to new takings and does not affect cases already underway.

Key Provisions

Federal government cannot exercise eminent domain over agricultural land if a feasible alternative use is available.
The prohibition does not apply to eminent domain actions that began before the law takes effect.
"Agricultural land" is defined as land used for farming, ranching, forestry, or timber production within the past five years.
Land of ten acres or less with annual gross receipts under $1,000 from its products is excluded from the definition.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

August 20, 2026

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

August 20, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

August 20, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued August 20, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10135

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 20, 2026

Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To prohibit the exercise of eminent domain over agricultural land, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Not In My Barn Yard Act.

2.

Prohibition on exercise of eminent domain over agricultural land

(a)

Prohibition

The Federal Government may not exercise eminent domain over any agricultural land if a feasible alternative to the public use for which the Government seeks to exercise eminent domain is available.

(b)

Application to pending exercises of eminent domain

The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to any exercise of eminent domain that commenced before the date of enactment of this Act.

(c)

Agricultural land defined

The term agricultural land—

(1)

means land in the United States that is used, as of the date on which the Government seeks to exercise eminent domain, or has been used during the previous 5-year period, for farming, ranching, forestry production, or timber production; and

(2)

does not include land not exceeding ten acres in the aggregate, if the annual gross receipts from the sale of the farm, ranch, forestry, or timber products produced thereon do not exceed $1,000.