Sponsors (9)
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Proposes broad changes to clean water laws that reduce federal permitting for many agricultural and pesticide discharges, shorten and limit judicial review, expand and streamline general permits (including lengthening permit terms to 10 years), and require agencies to speed permitting, mitigation, and state program approvals. It also locks in three State dredge-and-fill permit programs, narrows the statutory scope of “navigable waters,” and adds several deadlines and pilot programs to promote state-led action and faster Corps/EPA decisions.
The bill prioritizes faster, cheaper permitting and greater regulatory certainty for farmers, developers, and state agencies, but does so by narrowing federal oversight and public review in ways that raise substantial risks to water quality, public health, ecosystem protections, and potential costs to local communities and taxpayers.
Farmers, ranchers, and pesticide applicators will face fewer NPDES permitting triggers for precipitation-driven agricultural runoff and routine pesticide discharges, lowering compliance costs and regulatory burden.
Developers, utilities, and infrastructure project sponsors will get faster, more predictable permitting (nationwide permits, longer permit terms, accelerated reviews), reducing project delays and financing uncertainty.
State and local permitting authorities and permittees will gain clearer timelines, standardized processes, and reduced administrative workload—improving predictability for program approvals and permit decisions.
Downstream communities, recreationists, and drinking-water providers could face greater exposure to manure, fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants because agricultural runoff and routine pesticide discharges are more often exempt from NPDES permitting and monitoring.
Wetlands, streams, and aquatic ecosystems (and species that depend on them) are at higher risk because streamlined reviews, longer permit durations, limits on ESA/state consultation, and restrictions on Corps rulemaking can reduce scrutiny and delay stronger protections.
Public participation and judicial oversight over permitting decisions would be curtailed—shortened filing windows, limited standing, and constraints on who can enforce conditions reduce community input and legal recourse.
Introduced June 11, 2025 by Mike Collins · Last progress December 15, 2025