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Water Rights Protection Act of 2025

H.R. 302, 119th Congress

Status
In committee
Introduced
01/09/2025
Cosponsors
6
Latest action
11/25/2025

About this bill

Official title
Water Rights Protection Act
Sponsor
Celeste Maloy (R-UT)
Introduced in
House
Policy area
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Committees
Agriculture Committee, Natural Resources Committee
Latest action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 334.

Full text and history on Congress.gov

Summary

Congressional Research Service, Introduced in House (01/09/2025)

Water Rights Protection Act of 2025

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.

Actions

Newest first

  1. 11/25/2025 · House

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 334.

  2. 11/25/2025 · House

    Committee on Agriculture discharged.

  3. 11/25/2025 · House

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-384, Part I.

  4. 02/14/2025 · House

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

  5. 02/12/2025 · House

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 16.

  6. 02/12/2025 · House

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  7. 01/09/2025 · House

    Referred 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.

  8. 01/09/2025

    Introduced in House

Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, Indian lands and resources rights, Intergovernmental relations, Land use and conservation, Licensing and registrations, State and local government operations, Water use and supply.

Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office, GovInfo Bill Status; Congressional Research Service summaries · Last updated 11/25/2025

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