Legis Daily

Farmers Freedom Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-795| Senate 
| Updated: 2/27/2025
Mike Rounds

Mike Rounds

Republican Senator

South Dakota

Cosponsors (6)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Roger Marshall (Republican)John Thune (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)John Barrasso (Republican)John Hoeven (Republican)

Environment and Public Works Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill proposes to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act by explicitly modifying the definition of "navigable waters" to exclude prior converted cropland , thereby limiting federal jurisdiction. It defines prior converted cropland as any area manipulated for agricultural production before December 23, 1985, including those designated by the Secretary of Agriculture. This exclusion aims to clarify the regulatory status of such lands under federal water pollution laws. The legislation broadly defines "agricultural purpose" to encompass activities such as grazing, conservation uses, and water management. However, the exclusion for prior converted cropland does not apply to areas considered abandoned —meaning not used for agriculture for five years—that have subsequently reverted to wetlands. Furthermore, the bill prohibits federal agencies from implementing any "change in use policy" for prior converted cropland, specifically disallowing the policy from the 2023 "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'" rule to prevent reclassification based on subsequent land use changes.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3366
Farmers Freedom Act of 2023
Jan 3, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-91
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 27, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3366
    Farmers Freedom Act of 2023


  • January 3, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-91
    Introduced in House


  • February 27, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 27, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environmental Protection

Farmers Freedom Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-795| Senate 
| Updated: 2/27/2025
This bill proposes to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act by explicitly modifying the definition of "navigable waters" to exclude prior converted cropland , thereby limiting federal jurisdiction. It defines prior converted cropland as any area manipulated for agricultural production before December 23, 1985, including those designated by the Secretary of Agriculture. This exclusion aims to clarify the regulatory status of such lands under federal water pollution laws. The legislation broadly defines "agricultural purpose" to encompass activities such as grazing, conservation uses, and water management. However, the exclusion for prior converted cropland does not apply to areas considered abandoned —meaning not used for agriculture for five years—that have subsequently reverted to wetlands. Furthermore, the bill prohibits federal agencies from implementing any "change in use policy" for prior converted cropland, specifically disallowing the policy from the 2023 "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'" rule to prevent reclassification based on subsequent land use changes.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3366
Farmers Freedom Act of 2023
Jan 3, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-91
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 27, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3366
    Farmers Freedom Act of 2023


  • January 3, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-91
    Introduced in House


  • February 27, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 27, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Mike Rounds

Mike Rounds

Republican Senator

South Dakota

Cosponsors (6)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Roger Marshall (Republican)John Thune (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)John Barrasso (Republican)John Hoeven (Republican)

Environment and Public Works Committee

Environmental Protection

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted