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EnvironmentH.R. 302Not Yet VotedComments

Water Rights Protection Act

Official title: To prohibit the conditioning of any permit, lease, or other use agreement on the transfer of any water right to the United States by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, and for other purposes.

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How Congress Voted

What Happened in Congress?

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Not yet voted on the floor.

Where the Bill Stands

  1. Introduced, done
  2. Committee, done
  3. Floor Vote, current stage
  4. Outcome, not yet

What This Bill Does

This bill limits the transfer of water rights from water users to the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

First, the bill prohibits Interior and USDA from conditioning the issuance or renewal of land use or occupancy agreements (e.g., permits and leases) on the transfer of any water right to the United States. Next, it prohibits Interior and USDA from requiring water users, including Indian tribes, to acquire water rights in the name of the United States as a condition of the issuance or renewal of a land use or occupancy agreement. Finally, it prohibits Interior and USDA from conditioning or withholding the issuance or renewal of land use or occupancy agreements on (1) limiting the date, time, quantity, location of diversion or pumping, or place of use of a state water right beyond any applicable limitations under state water law; or (2) modifying the terms and conditions of groundwater withdrawal, guidance and reporting procedures, or conservation and source protection measures established by a state.

Interior and USDA must also ensure that federal action imposes no greater restriction or regulatory requirement than under applicable state water law.

Further, Interior and USDA must not take actions that adversely affect state authority in permitting water usage or in adjudicating water rights.

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Related Documents

Bill on Congress.govWeb Page ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Timeline

  1. House floor actionsReported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-384, Part I.
  2. House committee actionsReferred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
  3. House committee actionsCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  4. Library of CongressIntroduced in House
  5. House floor actionsReferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  6. Introduced
  7. Committee

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