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.
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.