Lummis introduces Farmers and Ranchers Relief Act to clarify Clean Water Act exemptions
CHEYENNE (WNE) — U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., on Tuesday introduced the Farmers and Ranchers Relief Act of 2026, a bill to strengthen and clarify Clean Water Act Section 404(f) exemptions for farmers, ranchers and landowners conducting routine land and water management activities.
“Farmers and ranchers shouldn’t need a team of lawyers just to maintain a ditch or manage their land the way they always have,” Lummis said in a news release. “This bill fixes a loophole that never should have existed in the first place. If you’re doing the right thing on your own land, the federal government should be the last thing you’re worried about.”
Todd Fornstrom, president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, lent his support to the bill as well.
“Congress recognized that farmers and ranchers must be able to carry out routine agricultural activities without unnecessary federal permitting requirements, which is why Congress included the Section 404(f) exemption in the Clean Water Act,” Fornstrom said in the release. “However, exemptions are only effective when they are clear and consistently applied. Greater certainty is needed to ensure farmers and ranchers can confidently conduct normal farming operations as Congress intended, without the risk of unintended regulatory burdens.
“We appreciate Senator Lummis’s leadership in introducing legislation that provides much-needed clarity and certainty, helping farmers and ranchers continue their work while maintaining their strong commitment to conservation and stewardship.”
This story was published on July 16, 2026.
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