Farmers Freedom Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill changes the Clean Water Act to ensure the federal government cannot regulate "prior converted cropland" as protected water. This refers to land that was drained or changed before December 23, 1985, so that it could be used for farming. By removing this land from federal oversight, farmers would not need to seek special water permits for most activities on that land.
• The bill defines farming activities very broadly to include grazing, haying, raising fish, and even leaving land empty for conservation or to help the soil recover after a natural disaster. This wide definition makes it easier for landowners to keep their exempt status even if they are not actively growing traditional crops.
• Land only loses this special exemption if it is "abandoned," which the bill defines as not being used for any farming purpose for at least five years. If the land is abandoned and turns back into a natural wetland during that time, the government could then step back in to regulate it under water protection laws.
• This proposal specifically blocks the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from using certain 2023 rules that tried to regulate this land if its use changed. By writing these protections into law, it prevents federal agencies from changing the requirements for farmers without a new act of Congress.