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Farmers Freedom Act of 2025
3/28/2025, 11:22 AM
Summary of Bill S 795
The bill argues that prior converted cropland should not be subject to the same regulations and restrictions as traditional navigable waters, as it has already been altered for agricultural purposes. By excluding this type of land from the definition of navigable waters, the bill aims to reduce regulatory burdens on farmers and landowners who utilize prior converted cropland for agricultural activities.
In addition to excluding prior converted cropland from the definition of navigable waters, the bill also includes provisions for other purposes related to water pollution control. These additional purposes are not specified in the summary provided, but may include measures to improve water quality, protect natural habitats, or address other environmental concerns. Overall, Bill 119 s 795 seeks to provide clarity and relief for farmers and landowners who utilize prior converted cropland, while also addressing broader issues related to water pollution control. The bill is currently under consideration in the US Congress and may undergo further revisions before potentially becoming law.
Congressional Summary of S 795
Farmers Freedom Act of 2025
This bill excludes certain prior converted cropland from permit requirements under the Clean Water Act, including Section 404 permits for discharges of dredged materials into waters of the United States (WOTUS). The exclusion applies to areas that were converted to cropland prior to December 23, 1985. However, the bill does not exclude an area that has reverted to wetlands and has not been used for agricultural purposes in five years.
In recent years, there has not been regulatory consistency about which cropland, such as cropland that has reverted to wetlands, is protected under the scope of the act as WOTUS. In 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the Navigable Waters Protection Rule that, among other provisions, defined prior converted cropland in order to specify which cropland is excluded from the scope of the act. However, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona vacated the rule in Pascua Yaqui Tribe v. EPA. In 2023, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers issued another rule that excluded prior converted cropland from the scope of the act, but they defined the exclusion more narrowly than the exclusion in the 2020 rule.
Similar to the 2020 rule, this bill broadens the exclusion. The bill determines the scope of the exclusion by defining the term prior converted cropland in statute.
