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H.R. 2939: Water Rights Protection Act of 2017

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H.R. 2939: Water Rights Protection Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-06-20 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 187.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-06-20 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Tipton, Scott R. [R-CO-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 187. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Water Rights Protection Act of 2017

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Water Rights Protection Act of 2017 (Sec. 3) This bill prohibits the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture from: conditioning the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement (permit) on the transfer of any water right to the United States or on any impairment of title or interest granted or otherwise recognized under state law by federal or state action; or requiring any water user (including a federally recognized Indian tribe) to apply for or acquire a water right in the name of the United States under state law as a condition of the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of such a permit. (Sec. 4) In developing any rule or similar federal action relating to the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, such departments: (1) shall recognize the longstanding water use authority of the states and coordinate with the states to ensure that any federal action is consistent with applicable state water law; and (2) shall not adversely affect the authority of a state in permitting the beneficial use of water or adjudicating water rights.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment, Part I), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Water Rights Protection Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment, Part I)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Tipton, Scott R. [R-CO-3] · 12 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2939, Water Rights Protection Act of 2017 (2017-07-17)

Cosponsors on this site

Tom McClintock (R-CA), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Mark E. Amodei (R-NV), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Michael K. Simpson (R-ID), Bruce Westerman (R-AR)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr2939 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115