Property Rights Protection Act of 2020

To protect private property rights, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Property Rights Protection Act of 2020 2. Water rights (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Secretary The term Secretary (A) the Secretary of Agriculture; or (B) the Secretary of the Interior. (2) Water right The term water right (b) Treatment of water rights The Secretary shall not— (1) condition the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement on the transfer of any water right (including joint and sole ownership) directly or indirectly to the United States, or on any impairment of title or interest, in whole or in part, granted or otherwise recognized under State law, by Federal or State adjudication, decree, or other judgment, or pursuant to any interstate water compact; or (2) require any water user (including any federally recognized Indian Tribe) to apply for or acquire a water right in the name of the United States under State law as a condition of the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement. (c) Policy development In developing any rule, policy, directive, management plan, or similar Federal action relating to the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement, the Secretary— (1) shall— (A) recognize the longstanding authority of the States relating to evaluating, protecting, allocating, regulating, permitting, and adjudicating water use; and (B) coordinate with the States to ensure that any rule, policy, directive, management plan, or similar Federal action is consistent with, and imposes no greater restriction or regulatory requirement, than applicable State water law; and (2) shall not— (A) adversely affect— (i) the authority of a State in— (I) permitting the beneficial use of water; or (II) adjudicating water rights; (ii) any definition established by a State with respect to the term beneficial use priority of water rights terms of use (iii) any other right or obligation of a State established under State law; or (B) assert any connection between surface and groundwater that is inconsistent with such a connection recognized by State water laws. (d) Effect (1) Existing authority Nothing in this section limits or expands any existing legally recognized authority of the Secretary to issue, grant, or condition any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement on Federal land that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary. (2) Reclamation contracts Nothing in this section in any way interferes with any existing or future Bureau of Reclamation contract entered into pursuant to Federal reclamation law (the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388, chapter 1093), and Acts supplemental to and amendatory of that Act). (3) Endangered Species Act Nothing in this section affects the implementation of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 (4) Federal reserved water rights Nothing in this section limits or expands any existing reserved water rights of the Federal Government on land administered by the Secretary. (5) Federal Power Act Nothing in this section limits or expands authorities pursuant to section 4(e), 10(j), or 18 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 797(e) (6) Indian water rights Nothing in this section limits or expands any existing reserved water right or treaty right of any federally recognized Indian Tribe. (7) Federally held State water rights Nothing in this section limits the ability of the Secretary, through applicable State procedures, to acquire, use, enforce, or protect a State water right owned by the United States. 3. Non-federally owned property (a) In general After the date of enactment of this Act, non-federally owned land and water may not be declared as critical habitat without the express written consent of the owners of such non-federally owned property unless the Secretary determines there is a risk of extinction of a threatened or endangered species without such designation. (b) Compensation Except as provided in subsection (c)(2), not later than 180 days after the date on which an agency action takes place, the Secretary shall pay an owner or lessee an amount equal to 150 percent of the fair market value of the real property determined in accordance with subsection (c)(1). (c) Determination of fair market value (1) In general The fair market value described in subsection (b) shall be determined by 2 licensed independent appraisers of whom— (A) 1 shall be chosen by the Secretary; and (B) 1 shall be chosen by the owner or lessee. (2) Failure to agree on fair market value (A) In general If the appraisers chosen under subsection (a) fail to agree on the same fair market value, the Secretary and the owner shall jointly select an additional licensed independent appraiser to determine the fair market value. (B) Extension of time to make determination The licensed independent appraiser described in subsection (a) shall determine the fair market value not later than 270 days after the date on which the agency action takes place. (3) Costs The Secretary shall be responsible for all costs relating to the determination of fair market value made under this section. 4. Obtaining permission for access to private lands The Secretary of the Interior shall, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, issue a final rule requiring the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to follow rules substantially similar to the requirements in the United States Geological Survey Survey Manual Chapter 500.11, as in effect on August 22, 2008. 5. Defense of life or property (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall not be a violation of law to take any animal if such animal poses a recurring threat to life and property. (b) Definitions In this section, the term take has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1532

Summary: Property Rights Protection Act of 2020 This bill specifies certain rights for private property owners or lessees. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior from conditioning the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any land use or occupancy agreement on the transfer of any water right to the United States, or on any impairment of title or interest granted or otherwise recognized under state law, by federal or state judgment, or pursuant to any interstate water compact; or requiring any water user to apply for or acquire a water right in the name of the United States under state law as a condition for the issuance, renewal, or extension of any land use or occupancy agreement. Non-federally owned land and water may not be designated as critical habitat without the written consent of the property owners unless a threatened or endangered species is at risk of extinction without such a designation. The department concerned must pay an owner or lessee 150% of the fair market value of real property and is responsible for all related costs. Interior shall issue a final rule that requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to follow rules substantially similar to the requirements for the U.S. Geological Survey to obtain permission for certain access to private lands. Furthermore, it shall not be a violation of law to take any animal if it poses a recurring threat to life and property.