A senate committee must act next: committee consideration.
Legislative Progress
Senate
House
President
Law
Unlikely to pass
This bill is supported only by one party and faces strong opposition from groups concerned about water protection, making it hard to pass a divided Congress.
Key Points
This bill changes how the government regulates moving soil or fill material near water on farms and ranches. It aims to reduce the number of federal permits landowners need for routine work on their property.
The proposal requires federal agencies to interpret existing laws in a way that favors the landowner. It makes it easier for farmers to qualify for permit exemptions and harder for the government to cancel those exemptions.
This change targets the Clean Water Act to give more freedom to people working the land. It focuses on ensuring that normal farming activities are not slowed down by complicated federal environmental rules.
If passed, this would likely decrease the oversight of certain activities near wetlands or streams. This could save farmers money and time but might lead to concerns about how these changes affect local water health.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
2 milestones2 actions
Jul 13, 2026Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Jul 13, 2026
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes, news coverage, or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Farmers and Ranchers Relief Act of 2026
Bill NumberS 4956
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
