This Act may be cited as the Farmers and Ranchers Relief Act of 2026.

It is the intent of Congress that, to provide meaningful permitting relief to landowners— (1) the exemptions under section 404(f)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344(f)(1)U.S. Code — Title 33, Section 1344(f)(1)View official source on GovInfo) for certain discharges of dredged or fill material from the prohibition under that Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.U.S. Code — Title 33, Section 1251 and followingView official source on GovInfo) of unpermitted discharge of pollutants (commonly referred to as section 404(f) exemptions) be interpreted liberally; and (2) the recapture provision under section 404(f)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. (f)(2)) be interpreted narrowly.

Section 404(f) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344(f)U.S. Code — Title 33, Section 1344(f)View official source on GovInfo) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the discharge and inserting The discharge; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (3) Construction This subsection shall be construed liberally in favor of not prohibiting, and not requiring a permit under this section for, any discharge of dredged or fill material described in paragraph (1)..