Bill > S795

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to specifically exclude "prior converted cropland" from the definition of "navigable waters," which is a legal term that typically determines federal regulatory jurisdiction over water bodies. The bill defines prior converted cropland as agricultural land that was drained or manipulated for agricultural production before December 23, 1985, and provides a broad definition of "agricultural purpose" that includes activities like grazing, haying, conservation use, habitat management, soil recovery, and farm-raised fish production. The bill stipulates that prior converted cropland loses this designation only if it has been abandoned for at least 5 years and has reverted to wetlands. Additionally, the bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers from implementing a recent rule that would have changed how prior converted cropland is regulated. By explicitly removing prior converted cropland from the definition of navigable waters, the bill aims to provide farmers and landowners with more certainty and flexibility in land use, reducing potential federal regulatory oversight of agricultural lands.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/795/all-info