Water Rights Protection Act

<p><strong>Water Rights Protection Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill limits the transfer of&nbsp;water rights from water users to the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture (USDA).</p><p>First, the bill&nbsp;prohibits Interior and USDA from conditioning the issuance or renewal of&nbsp;land use or occupancy agreements (e.g., permits and leases) on the transfer of any water right to the United States. Next, it prohibits Interior and USDA from&nbsp;requiring water users, including Indian tribes,&nbsp;to acquire water rights in the name of the United States as a condition of the issuance or renewal of a land use or occupancy agreement. Finally, it prohibits Interior and USDA from&nbsp;conditioning or withholding the issuance or renewal of land use or occupancy agreements on (1) limiting the date, time, quantity, location of diversion or pumping, or place of use of a&nbsp;state water right beyond any applicable limitations under&nbsp;state water law; or (2)&nbsp;modifying&nbsp;the terms and conditions of groundwater withdrawal, guidance and reporting procedures, or conservation and source protection measures established by a state.</p><p>Interior and&nbsp;USDA must also ensure that federal action imposes no greater restriction or regulatory requirement than under applicable state water law.</p><p>Further, Interior and USDA must not take actions that adversely affect state authority in permitting water usage or in adjudicating water rights.</p>