NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act

Senate Bill

S. 1495

119th Congress

NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act

In Committee

Introduced:Apr 10, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Mike Rounds

R - SD

Cosponsors

2

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Summary

This bill reforms how the federal government handles wetland determinations on farms, giving landowners more protections in appeals, prohibiting retroactive penalties, and preventing permanent easements on agricultural land.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Introduced4/10/2025

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

ChamberSenate

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Vote Prediction

NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act

This bill reforms how the federal government handles wetland determinations on farms, giving landowners more protections in appeals, prohibiting retroactive penalties, and preventing permanent easements on agricultural land.

Community Breakdown

Pass

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Fail

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This bill reforms how the federal government handles wetland determinations on farms, giving landowners more protections in appeals, prohibiting retroactive penalties, and preventing permanent easements on agricultural land.

Bill Number: 1495
Introduced: 4/10/2025
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Policy Area: Agriculture and Food

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act
Bill Number: 1495
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced: 4/10/2025
Summary: This bill reforms how the federal government handles wetland determinations on farms, giving landowners more protections in appeals, prohibiting retroactive penalties, and preventing permanent easements on agricultural land.

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill reforms how the federal government handles wetland determinations on farms, giving landowners more protections in appeals, prohibiting retroactive penalties, and preventing permanent easements on agricultural land.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act This bill revises provisions related to compliance and the appeals process for the wetland certification program at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).Among other things, this bill<ul><li>prohibits the NRCS from acquiring any permanent easement;</li><li>prohibits the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from imposing penalties retroactively for newly determined wetlands;</li><li>revises the appeals process of the NRCS for wetland certification requests;</li><li>prohibits USDA from using new rationale for a wetland determination if a person has previously successfully appealed a final wetland determination;</li><li>establishes that USDA bears the burden of proof, by clear and convincing evidence, that a person has violated certain wetland conservation provisions;</li><li>requires USDA to establish oversight committees in each state that will oversee the appeals of wetland determinations; and</li><li>requires that each individual who interacts with the NRCS have the option to participate in a customer satisfaction survey provided by an independent survey company.</li></ul>In addition, USDA must modify the appeals process to provide the person appealing with certain USDA records or documentation relating to the compliance violations.Further, in an appeal that is related to a delineation, determination, or certification of a wetland, USDA must modify the process to (1) allow a person to call NRCS technical staff as a witness, (2) accept evidence provided by the person bringing the appeal as reliable absent substantial evidence that it is not reliable, and (3) compensate a person who successfully appeals for fees and expenses.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Prohibits NRCS from acquiring permanent wetland easements
Bars retroactive penalties for newly determined wetlands
Shifts burden of proof to USDA in wetland disputes
Compensates landowners who successfully appeal wetland decisions

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Farmers and ranchers disputing wetland determinations on their property would have stronger appeal rights and protections. USDA would bear the burden of proving violations rather than landowners having to prove compliance.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

1495, 119th Congress (2025). "NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-1495

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