Farmers and Ranchers Relief Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would deliver permitting relief for farmers and ranchers by changing how the Clean Water Act treats certain discharges of dredged or fill material. It would expand exemptions in Section 404(f)(1), narrow the recapture rule in Section 404(f)(2), and require courts and agencies to construe those exemptions liberally in favor of not requiring permits.
Show full summary
- Farmers, ranchers, and landowners: Would face fewer permit requirements for certain dredged or fill discharges because the bill directs a liberal reading of Section 404(f)(1).
- Federal regulators and permit applicants: Would see a narrower trigger for losing exemptions under Section 404(f)(2), and a new construction rule that directs officials and courts to favor non-prohibition and non-permitting for covered discharges.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Fewer wetland permits for landowners
This bill would tell agencies and courts to read Clean Water Act exemptions for some dredge-or-fill activities more broadly. This would make it less likely that farmers, ranchers, and other landowners need a federal section 404 permit for some discharges of dredged or fill material on their land. It would also direct that the recapture rule be read narrowly and add a rule to construe those exemptions in favor of not requiring a permit. The change would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
WY • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Armstrong, Alan [R-OK]
OK • R
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
UT • R
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
PA • R
Sponsored 8/4/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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