Build Now Act
Sponsored By: Representative Gray
Introduced
Summary
Establishes a 1-year deadline for environmental reviews of permits for Central Valley Project enhancement projects. It would require agencies to complete the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act reviews within 1 year or else extend the review with the applicant's approval or deny the permit.
Show full summary
- Families and local water users: Faster permit decisions for projects like groundwater recharge, aquifer storage, and water source substitution could speed Central Valley water infrastructure work.
- Permit applicants and project sponsors: Applicants would get quicker outcomes under a 1-year timeline. If a permit is denied for missing the deadline, applicants may reapply and agencies must, when allowed by law, share prior review materials to help expedite the new review.
- Federal permitting agencies: Agency heads must meet a strict 1-year timeline that overrides other laws. They must either grant an extension with the applicant's consent or deny the permit.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster permits for Central Valley water projects
This bill would define a 'CVP enhancement project' to include groundwater recharge, aquifer storage, and water source substitution projects. It would require agencies to finish the environmental review for a federal CVP enhancement permit within 1 year of application. The 1-year deadline would apply despite any other law. If an agency cannot meet the deadline, the agency head would either extend the review with the applicant's approval or deny the permit. An applicant denied for missing the timeline would be able to reapply at any time. On reapplication, the agency would have to give the applicant any information from the prior review, to the extent allowed by law, to help speed the new review. The bill would define 'environmental review' to mean the NEPA and ESA section 7 processes applicable to the permit.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gray
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in