The bill amends Sections 2-1-20 and 2-1-22 of the General Laws in Chapter 2-1, which governs the agricultural functions of the Department of Environmental Management. It introduces new definitions for terms such as "Area subject to flooding," "Buffer," "Floodplain," "Freshwater wetlands," and "Vernal pool," which aim to clarify the jurisdiction of the Department over these ecological areas. The bill also specifies the "Jurisdictional area" to be regulated, including freshwater wetlands and floodplains, with defined distances from water bodies—200 feet from rivers or streams and 100 feet from other freshwater wetlands—enhancing the protection and management of these vital ecosystems.

Additionally, the bill revises the definition of "farmer" and the criteria for what constitutes a farm, lowering the required gross income from farm products from $10,000 to $2,500 and expanding the definition to include all agricultural operations, such as forestry. It deletes the previous legal language that defined a farmer based on specific revenue and tax filing requirements. The bill also establishes a procedural framework for project approvals related to agricultural operations, including public notification and hearings, while ensuring that normal farming activities are considered insignificant alterations exempt from certain regulations, provided they follow best management practices. The act is set to take effect upon passage.