H.R. 3898 · Passed House · Environmental Protection

PERMIT Act

Sponsor: Mike Collins (R-GA)

What it does

• Redefines 'navigable waters' under the Clean Water Act to exclude waste treatment systems, ephemeral features that flow only in direct response to precipitation, prior converted cropland, and groundwater.
• Grants the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to determine additional features that are excluded from the definition of navigable waters.
• Limits the scope of Clean Water Act permitting requirements by narrowing the jurisdictional reach of federal water regulation.

Official summary

Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act or the PERMIT Act This bill limits the scope of the Clean Water Act by redefining navigable waters to exclude (1) waste treatment systems, (2) ephemeral features that flow only in direct response to precipitation, (3) prior converted cropland, (4) groundwater, or (5) any other features determined to be excluded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Latest action

Dec 15, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works