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119-s-228119th CongressWALLET

Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act

Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

Introduced

Summary

Extends disaster assistance to acequia-reliant producers and reduces federal permitting barriers so communities can maintain historic irrigation ditches. The bill would add acequia users to the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program and bar special use permit requirements for routine acequia upkeep on USDA and Interior land.

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  • Producers and farm families: Would allow agricultural producers who rely on acequias to receive Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) payments for all losses from drought, flood, or other natural disasters.
  • Acequia communities and volunteers: Would prohibit requiring a special use permit on Department of Agriculture or Department of the Interior land for the presence or use of an acequia or for routine maintenance and minor improvements by a community governing body or authorized community users. Routine maintenance includes cleaning, silt removal, repairs, and replacement in kind when agreed in writing with the relevant Secretary.
  • Federal agencies and Congress: Would require USDA to report within two years on the number of acequia-reliant producers, county-level NAP assistance, access to Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, and USDA programs providing technical or financial help to acequia producers.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More disaster crop help for acequia farmers

If enacted, you would be able to get Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program help if you are an agricultural producer who relies on an acequia. The help would cover all losses from the event described in subsection (a)(3) when the Secretary of Agriculture makes that determination. The bill does not set payment amounts or deadlines. Payments would follow existing NAP rules.

No federal permits for acequia upkeep

If enacted, federal land managers would not be able to require a special use permit for an acequia on Federal land. They also could not require a permit for routine maintenance or minor improvements done by community users or the acequia governing body. Covered work includes cleaning, repairs, replacement-in-kind, annual silt removal, and other traditional activities agreed in writing with the Secretary concerned.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/23/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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