Water Rights Protection Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2939
Sponsor: Rep. Tipton, Scott  R. [R-CO-3]
Introduced: 2017-06-20 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Indian lands and resources rights
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
State and local government operations
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-20
text: 

Water Rights Protection Act of 2017

 
 This bill prohibits the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture from:
 
 
conditioning the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement (permit) 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 action; or 
 
requiring any water user (including a 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 such a permit.
 
 
In developing any rule or similar federal action relating to the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, such departments: (1) shall recognize the longstanding water use authority of the states and coordinate with the states to ensure that any federal action is consistent with applicable state water law; and (2) shall not adversely affect the authority of a state in permitting the beneficial use of water or adjudicating water rights.

action_date: 2017-07-25
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Water Rights Protection Act of 2017

 
 (Sec. 3) This bill prohibits the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture from:
 
 
conditioning the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement (permit) 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 action; or 
 
requiring any water user (including a 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 such a permit.
 
 
(Sec. 4) In developing any rule or similar federal action relating to the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, such departments: (1) shall recognize the longstanding water use authority of the states and coordinate with the states to ensure that any federal action is consistent with applicable state water law; and (2) shall not adversely affect the authority of a state in permitting the beneficial use of water or adjudicating water rights.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-25
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 187.
action_date: 2017-07-25
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2017-07-25
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2017-07-25
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-257, Part I.
action_date: 2017-07-25
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-257, Part I.
action_date: 2017-06-27
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 14.
action_date: 2017-06-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-06-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-06-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-06-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-06-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-20
text: Introduced in House