Water Rights Protection Act

The Water Rights Protection Act of 2025 aims to prevent the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior from conditioning federal permits, leases, or other land use agreements on the transfer of any water right to the United States. This legislation prohibits federal agencies from requiring water users, including federally recognized Indian Tribes, to acquire water rights in the name of the U.S. as a condition for such agreements. It further mandates that federal actions, including policy development, must recognize and be consistent with existing State water law , imposing no greater restrictions than those established by the State. The Act explicitly states that federal agencies shall not assert connections between surface and groundwater inconsistent with State law, nor adversely affect a State's authority in permitting or adjudicating water rights. It also prevents federal agencies from conditioning or withholding permits based on limiting the terms of a State water right beyond applicable State law or modifying State-established groundwater management terms. Importantly, the bill clarifies that it does not interfere with existing Bureau of Reclamation contracts, the Endangered Species Act, federal reserved water rights, Indian water rights, or interstate water compacts, nor does it limit the Secretary's ability to acquire State water rights already owned by the United States.