Water Rights Protection Act
Sponsored By: Representative Maloy
In Committee
Summary
This bill would bar federal agencies from conditioning permits, leases, or other land-use approvals on transferring state or tribal water rights to the United States. It would also require federal officials to respect and coordinate with State water laws and definitions when setting permit terms.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No federal strings on water permits
If enacted, federal agencies would not be able to tie your permit or lease to giving the United States your water right. Interior and Agriculture would have to follow State water law and coordinate with States. They could not add limits beyond State law on when, where, or how much you divert or pump, or make you seek a water right in the United States’ name. They also could not claim surface–groundwater links that conflict with State law or force changes to State groundwater conservation or reporting rules. State definitions like beneficial use and priority of rights would continue to control for permits, leases, easements, and rights-of-way.
Preserves federal and tribal water rights
If enacted, the bill would not change existing Bureau of Reclamation contracts under federal reclamation law or actions under the Endangered Species Act. It would not limit or expand federal reserved water rights on federal land, hydropower authorities under the Federal Power Act (sections 4(e), 10(j), and 18), or any federally recognized Tribe’s reserved or treaty water rights. The Secretary could still acquire, use, enforce, and protect State‑recognized water rights owned by the United States. Interstate water compacts and Supreme Court decrees enforcing them would stay as they are.
Clarifies what counts as a water right
If enacted, the bill would define a water right to include surface water, groundwater, and stored water that a State or a court recognizes when the user takes possession or puts it to beneficial use. It would also include water rights of federally recognized Indian Tribes. This definition would guide how the rest of the bill applies.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Maloy
UT • R
Cosponsors
Moore (UT)
UT • R
Sponsored 1/9/2025
Fulcher
ID • R
Sponsored 1/9/2025
Biggs (AZ)
AZ • R
Sponsored 1/9/2025
Estes
KS • R
Sponsored 1/9/2025
Owens
UT • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Kennedy (UT)
UT • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govRelated Bills
HR425 — Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act
Ends the Corporate Transparency Act and removes its amendments from federal law. It also adjusts related U.S. Code citations and parts of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 to reflect that repeal. - Repeals the Corporate Transparency Act as title LXIV of division F of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) and removes all amendments made by that Act. - Edits Title 31, United States Code by removing or changing cross-references that mentioned section 5336 and updating references in sections 5321 and 5322. - Alters the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 by repealing section 6502 and striking or modifying portions of section 6509 as described in the bill.
HRES719 — Honoring the life and legacy of Charles "Charlie" James Kirk.
Condemns political violence. The resolution condemns the assassination of Charles 'Charlie' James Kirk, honors his life and leadership, and urges swift justice while offering sympathy to his family.
HR21 — Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Mandates care and penalties for infants born alive after an abortion. This bill would set standards of care, require reporting, create criminal penalties, and allow civil suits when an infant is born alive following an abortion. - Women and families: A woman on whom an abortion is performed may sue anyone who violates the law and recover objectively verifiable medical and psychological damages, punitive damages, and statutory damages equal to three times the cost of the abortion. Courts must award reasonable attorney's fees to prevailing plaintiffs and may award fees to defendants if a suit is frivolous. - Health care practitioners and facility employees: Any practitioner present at a birth resulting from an abortion must exercise the same professional skill, care, and diligence as for any other live-born infant of the same gestational age. Practitioners or employees who know of a failure to comply must immediately report the violation to appropriate State or Federal law enforcement. - Criminal and statutory consequences: Violators face fines, up to 5 years in prison, or both, and anyone who intentionally kills a born-alive infant is punished under the murder statute. The bill also updates chapter headings and adds statutory definitions for "abortion" and "attempt."
HR703 — Main Street Tax Certainty Act
This bill would permanently preserve the qualified business income (QBI) deduction by removing the sunset provision in Internal Revenue Code section 199A. The change would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, so the deduction would be available for 2026 and later tax years. It achieves this by striking subsection (i) of section 199A and setting that effective date. Taxpayers with qualified business income would continue to claim the QBI deduction under the existing Section 199A rules for those years.
HR1628 — 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act
This bill would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion to recognize their role as the first Black American armored unit in World War II and their contribution to Allied success in Europe. It would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike the medal, require that the gold medal be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for display and research, authorize sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, and allow the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund to pay for the medals and receive proceeds from duplicate sales.
HR452 — Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act
This law awards Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team as a formal recognition of their Lake Placid victory and its lasting effect on American morale and the sport of hockey. It directs the Treasury to strike the medals and sets rules for duplicates, display, and funding. - Team legacy and public recognition: The Act honors the 1980 team with a symbolic national award that reinforces their historical and cultural significance for fans, players, and communities connected to the game. - Museum displays and research access: One gold medal goes to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, one to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum in Eveleth, Minnesota, and one to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs for display and research. - Mint operations and collectibles: The Secretary of the Treasury will strike the medals, may sell bronze duplicates at prices that cover costs, and classifies the medals as national and numismatic items. The U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund pays for production and receives proceeds from duplicate sales.
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Create a free account to save research, track policy impacts, and unlock your personalized versions of these pages.
Already have an account? Sign in