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Wetland Compliance Reform: Stronger Appeal Rights and Protection for Farmers.

This Act reforms how the federal government (NRCS) determines and enforces wetland rules on agricultural land. The changes aim to make the compliance process fairer and more transparent for farmers by raising the burden of proof required for the government to allege a violation. Farmers gain stronger appeal rights, including compensation for legal fees if they successfully overturn a determination.
Key points
The government must prove wetland violations using a higher standard: "clear and convincing evidence."
Removing woody vegetation (brush, stumps) is explicitly not considered illegal wetland conversion for farming purposes.
Prohibits retroactive penalties if the land was not officially certified as a wetland at the time the farming activity occurred.
Farmers who successfully appeal a determination can be compensated for legal fees and are allowed to call agency technical staff as witnesses.
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_S_1078
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Process start date: 2023-03-30
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_S_1078.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-03-30.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • The government must prove wetland violations using a higher standard: "clear and convincing evidence."
  • Removing woody vegetation (brush, stumps) is explicitly not considered illegal wetland conversion for farming purposes.
  • Prohibits retroactive penalties if the land was not officially certified as a wetland at the time the farming activity occurred.
  • Farmers who successfully appeal a determination can be compensated for legal fees and are allowed to call agency technical staff as witnesses.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

CATEGORIES

Agriculture Courts and Law