Sponsors (9)
The bill prioritizes faster, more predictable permitting and lower compliance costs for farmers, developers, and utilities and expands State administration, but does so largely by narrowing federal oversight, shortening public and judicial review, and relaxing protections that raise the risk of increased water pollution, habitat loss, and shifted cleanup costs onto local communities and taxpayers.
Farmers, pesticide applicators, small‑ and mid‑size facility owners (e.g., wastewater lagoons, storage sites) will face fewer NPDES/SPCC permitting requirements and higher numeric thresholds, reducing paperwork, permit fees, and compliance costs.
Developers, utilities, pipeline builders, and other infrastructure sponsors will get faster, more predictable permitting (longer/general nationwide permits, mandated nationwide permits for many linear projects, backlog clearance, expedited reviews), reducing delays and project costs.
State permit programs and state agencies gain clearer pathways and greater authority to administer CWA §404 and other permitting functions, which can speed local approvals and allow more locally tailored oversight.
Downstream communities, recreational users, and drinking‑water systems face higher risk of contamination because routine agricultural stormwater, many FIFRA‑authorized pesticide discharges, certain ephemeral/groundwater features, and some aerial fire‑suppression products are excluded or relaxed from NPDES oversight.
Wetlands, streams, aquatic habitat, and listed species protections are weakened or made harder to enforce because broader categories of impacts are treated as minimal, ESA consultations and fuller federal reviews are narrowed or bypassed, and longer permit terms can lock in less protective conditions.
Public-interest groups, citizens, and third parties will have reduced ability to challenge permits and enforcement decisions due to shorter filing windows, stricter comment/standing rules, denial‑with‑prejudice provisions, and narrowed private‑enforcement routes.
Based on analysis of 50 sections of legislative text.
Exempts many agricultural stormwater and FIFRA‑authorized pesticide discharges from NPDES permits, narrows federal water jurisdiction, extends/streamlines 404/402 permitting, and restricts judicial challenges.
Creates wide-ranging reforms to Clean Water Act permitting and related water rules: it excludes many agricultural stormwater discharges and FIFRA‑authorized pesticide discharges from NPDES permit requirements, narrows which waters are treated as federal “navigable waters,” extends and streamlines Corps and EPA permitting authorities (including longer general permit terms), and limits judicial challenges to certain approvals and permits. The bill also directs the Army Corps and EPA to revise mitigation and permitting procedures, expedite backlogs, authorize targeted pilot programs and IBWC funding authorities, and adjusts several technical regulatory thresholds and processes.
Introduced June 11, 2025 by Mike Collins · Last progress December 15, 2025