H.R. 302: Water Rights Protection Act

119th Congress · introduced 2025-01-09 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 334.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Water Rights Protection Act

Plain summary

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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Water Rights Protection Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2] · 6 cosponsors

Money: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 302, Water Rights Protection Act (2025-03-10) No linked contracts or vendors yet.

Words on this page, explained (1)

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).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-119hr302.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr>

Record fed-us-cong119-hr302 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills