Bill > HR302

This bill, known as the Water Rights Protection Act of 2025, aims to protect state-level water rights by preventing federal agencies (specifically the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior) from imposing additional restrictions or conditions on water rights when issuing permits or land use agreements. The bill defines "water right" broadly to include surface water, groundwater, and water storage uses recognized by state judicial proceedings or state authorities, and it explicitly requires federal agencies to defer to state water laws when developing policies or managing land use. Key provisions prohibit federal agencies from conditioning permits on transferring water rights to the United States, requiring water users to apply for water rights in the federal government's name, or imposing additional limitations on water use beyond existing state regulations. The bill preserves existing federal contracts, endangered species protections, federal reserved water rights, and Indian water rights, ensuring that it does not undermine existing legal frameworks. Essentially, the legislation is designed to protect local and state water management authorities from federal overreach and maintain state-level control over water resource allocation and use.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/302/all-info