The Maintaining Cooperative Permitting Act of 2025 prevents the Environmental Protection Agency from withdrawing approval of state wetland and water permit programs without explicit congressional authorization. The bill protects existing permit programs in Michigan, New Jersey, and Florida that allow states to issue permits for discharging dredged or fill material into waterways, removing the EPA's unilateral ability to revoke these delegated authorities. Florida is given a 90-day transition period during which both the federal Army Corps of Engineers and the state can issue permits, after which responsibility shifts to Florida alone. The bill also requires the EPA to approve comparable state programs submitted by other states if they meet the same standards as the three protected programs. This legislation effectively locks current state permit delegations in place and raises the bar for federal oversight by requiring Congress to act if the EPA wants to reclaim control over these environmental permitting decisions.
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