Skip to main content
HR 579 116th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources 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

Water Rights Protection Act of 2019

Introduced: January 15, 2019 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 7, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Feb 4, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Jan 15, 2019
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.
Jan 15, 2019
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Water Rights Protection Act of 2019

This bill prohibits the Departments of the Interior or 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 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.

What's happening now February 7, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Republican 6
R
Newhouse, Dan
Washington · May 8, 2019
 R
Amodei, Mark E.
Nevada · Jan 15, 2019
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jan 15, 2019
 R
Gosar, Paul A.
Arizona · Jan 15, 2019
 R
Simpson, Michael K.
Idaho · Jan 15, 2019
 R
Westerman, Bruce
Arkansas · Jan 15, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 579: Water Rights Protection Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-579/
MLA
"H.R. 579: Water Rights Protection Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-579/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 579, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-579/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 579: Water Rights Protection Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-579/)
Report a problem