Farmers and Ranchers Relief Act of 2026

It is the intent of Congress that, to provide meaningful permitting relief to landowners—

(1) the exemptions under section 404(f)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344(f)(1)) for certain discharges of dredged or fill material from the prohibition under that Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) of unpermitted discharge of pollutants (commonly referred to as section 404(f) exemptions) be interpreted liberally; and

(2) the recapture provision under section 404(f)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. (f)(2)) be interpreted narrowly.